AIADMK leader slaps party functionary for challenging Dr Anbumani Ramadoss at rally
Chennai: Former AIADMK minister S. Semmalai has caused a flutter in the party and a social media outrage after slapping his party functionary for asking PMK’s Dr Anbumani Ramadoss why he had turned up in his Dharmapuri constituency only after five years. Burly Thangaraj Senthil was shoved out by private security personnel and then showered with blows by angry PMK members in the ugly episode at Olapatti village in Dharmapuri constituency where Dr Anbumani is seeking a second term as MP.
Videos of Semmalai, presently MLA, repeatedly slapping Senthil and the poor fellow collapsing on the road after the PMK men’s attack, went viral and caused consternation in the AIADMK camp.
“It looks like Semmalai lost his cool. A senior like him should not have conducted himself in that manner. It’s a public rally and the media is ready to pounce on us”, said an AIADMK senior requesting anonymity.
The videos showed Senthil shouting at Dr Anbumani demanding to know why he made his appearance only now whereas the people in the constituency had voted for him five years back.
“Ayya, did you oppose the eight-lane expressway affecting the farmers?” shouted Senthil even as the private guards began to shove him out of the area and thereafter the PMK men took over the attack.
Reports said Anbumani cut short his campaign following the embarrassing incident. Already, social media posts have been picking holes in his performance in the Parliament, with the PRS Legislative Research reporting that the PMK MP had an attendance of 45 per cent while the national average was 80 per cent and the state average was 78 per cent. Also, he had participated in 12 debates while the national average was 67 and asked 51 questions in Lok Sabha as against the national average of 293.
The PMK is a member of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and is contesting in seven LS constituencies. Dr Anbumani was the lone winner for the party which had contested eight seats in 2014 as part of the BJP-led NDA.
