Chennai: Tense moments prevailed as a high-level executive committee meeting of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) was conducted by one faction while the opposing faction not only objected to the use of party flags and
banners using the party name – MMK but also ransacked the MMK office located in Pudupet later in the afternoon.
The committee dismissed Ramanathapuram MLA and MMK president — M.H. Jawahirulla, and Ambur MLA A. Aslam Basha, through a resolution.
Even as both factions were fighting over using the party’s name and
flag, the faction of MMK general secretary Thamimun Ansari decided to convene the meeting as other parties are exploring pre-poll alliance options already. A posse of police force cordoned off Triplicane Big Street — the meeting venue.
Heeding to the demands of Jawahirulla’s supporters, the flags and banners were removed by the cops present who also took pains to pacify the other side. At around 2 pm, a group, suspected supporters of Jawahirullah, ransacked the MMK office. Thamimun Ansari’s faction faulted police for their attempt to wipe away the evidence before they arrived.
The miscreants were caught in the CCTV grab from the surveillance cameras installed in the complex. Office furniture, hard diskettes, a tab, and '5 lakh raised to meet legal expenses, are among the loss enumerated by the faction. A complaint to this effect was lodged with city police. Speaking to DC, Thamimun Ansari faulted Jawahirullah for instigating the attack.
“We will take this forward democratically. We have been assured that stringent action will be taken against those involved in the attack,” he said.
Jawahirullah when contacted said that Thamimun Ansari had no locus standi to convene the executive committee. Let police find out and prosecute those behind the attack, he said.
“We have already convened the general body and executive committee last year, when we expelled Thamimun Ansari besides electing our office bearers,” he said.
