I was appointed as one of the directors of Kalaignar TV in late 2011
P V Kalyanasundaram. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Suspended DMK organizing secretary P.V. Kalyanasundaram might have whipped up a storm by demanding the declaration of party treasurer M.K. Stalin as party CM candidate for 2016, but his other demands are by any stretch of imagination not unjustified.
The series of scams the DMK was mired in during the last decade would vindicate Kalyanasundaram’s views. In this freewheeling chat with Deccan Chronicle, the die-hard Stalin loyalist explains why he was not wrong in asking Karunanidhi to keep A. Raja, Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran at bay even though he had accepted posts the two ex-ministers had offered in the past?
Q) There is a general perception that you resigned at Stalin’s behest? How do you respond to that?
Kalyanasundaram: Neither did I consult him (Stalin) before tendering my resignation nor would I do that now. Had I consulted him he would have definitely stopped me. He knew nothing of it till I resigned. I did it of my own volition in the interest of the party.
Q) But, the high command has suspended you for violating party discipline. Do you feel wronged?
K: I went to the press, which is violation of party discipline. The disciplinary action is right. But, I would like to know if my going to the press or the demand I had made was seen as indiscipline? I wonder why no one answers that.
Q) One of your demands is to keep A. Raja, Maran and Kanimozhi off party affairs? But, were you not nominated as independent director of Tata Telecom Ltd during their stint at telecom ministers. Deconstruct that…
K: Yes. Dayanidhi Maran asked me to be one of the independent directors of the government in Tata Telecom Ltd in September 2005. In 2007, Raja extended my term. I quit after Raja resigned and Kapil Sibal took over as telecom minister in 2011. It was not their property. I was appointed as one of the independent directors of GoI, which had 26% stakes in the company. I even occupied the office of Pachaiyappa’s trust president before that. What is wrong in that? They did not give me any concession. I am senior to them in the party. If they think it’s some concession they had given to me, I cannot help it.
Q) How do you explain your presence in the board of directors of Kalaignar TV and Anjugam Films Ltd?
K: Yes, I was appointed as one of the directors of Kalaignar TV in late 2011. But, I am not there anymore…. I sent my resignation to Kalaignar TV as well as Anjugam Films Ltd on July 31 itself, a week before I resigned from the party. Mr Amirtham was out of town and hence I gave my resignation to the finance department on July 31. I felt I should not remain on the board while raising questions against madam (read Kanimozhi) who holds 20% stakes in the company.
Q) Do you think you will succeed in your attempt? Are you confident that your resignation would bring some welcome change?
K: I do not know. Is director post more important than being organizing secretary of a party with 75 lakh cadres? Personally, it is a loss to me. I may or may not succeed. It does not matter. But I am doing it for my party. People interested in DMK’s welfare really know if my demands augur well for the party or not.
( Source : dc )
Next Story
