Chennai: A meeting of the Tamil Film Producers Council on Sunday witnessed noisy scenes with a section demanding the resignation of its president Vishal.
The actor, who made a vain bid to enter the RK Nagar byelection fray, has been accused of not taking up the cause of producers.
The Annual General Meeting, primarily convened to amend its bye-laws related to membership of the council, abruptly ended after accusations and counters between the chair and the section of members, one of the producers who attended the meeting said.
Vishal attempted to contest the December 21 byelection to the RK Nagar assembly constituency amid opposition from a section of the film producers. His nomination was rejected days ago by the Returning Officer on the ground that it lacked 10 valid proposers.
As soon as the council meet began, a section of the members demanded Vishal's resignation, saying he was not working for fulfilling the promises made by him at the time of his election as the chief of the body.
They opposed him taking up discussion on some issues which they felt were not important, film producer Cheran said. “They demanded his resignation and Vishal said he will not do it and soon argument and counter arguments ensued, the national anthem was played suddenly and Vishal exited”, he said.
Cheran, who had come out against Vishal contesting the bypoll, said he had no role in the arguments. A section of producers who had felt that Vishal's bid to contest polls was wrong opposed him, he claimed.
Actor-producer T. Rajendar said the office-bearers did not allow even senior producers to speak at the meeting. “According to the council's bylaws, we cannot act against the government. If Vishal wants to oppose the government, he should resign from the film producers council”, he said.
But defiant Vishal maintained contesting in RK Nagar was an independent decision and had nothing to do with the producers council. “Anyone can make complaints but they should come up with evidence and we will take necessary action. We cannot entertain complaints made without evidence. The council's by-laws do not bar anyone from contesting in elections. I will not resign”, he told reporters after the stormy council session.
