CHENNAI: The DMK resumed its crackdown on district functionaries against whom party candidates have complained of non-cooperation and infighting during the Assembly poll campaign resulting in electoral reverses in their area. The second phase of disciplinary action saw the exit of former MP and senior leader A.K.S. Vijayan (Nagapattinam-South) from the district secretary post, besides that of senior leader P. Kalayanam (Nagapattinam-South). Tuticorin (North) district secretary K.Rajaram too was shown the door by the party leadership. DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan, in a statement here, said A. Subramanian will be the new district secretary for Tuticorin (North). A.K.S. Vijayan will be replaced by N.Gautaman and Kalyanam by Nivedha M. Murugan.
The DMK lost five of the six seats in Nagapattinam district considered its stronghold from the sixties. Nagapattinam is the lone seat, the DMK alliance won in 1984 and 1989 Parliament elections when it was routed throughout the state. The delta region itself is considered the cradle of the Dravidian movement, producing leaders like P.T. Panneerselvam and 'Pattukottai' Azhagiri, besides DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. The party's parent body, the Dravidar Kazhgam wielded influence in the area and later, the DMK took roots in the region in the early sixties.
The DMK had performed well in Nagapattinam in 1996 and 2006, when it captured power in the state. In the recent Assembly elections, the DMK front lost in Sirkazhi, Poompuhar, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam and the lone winner was former Miniser U. Madhivanan from Kilvelur constituency.
The Congress candidate who contested in Vedaranyam, finished just a few hundred votes above the BJP candidate, who came a close third. The win in Kilvelur was credited to the vibrant campaign in the nearby Tiruvarur seat, where Karunanidhi was in the fray. In Tuticorin, only two powerful candidates and former ministers Anitha Radhakrishnan and Geetha Jeevan were able to win the polls. The DMK lost Kovilpatti and Vilathikulam, while its ally, the Congress was defeated in its stronghold of Srivaikuntam. Besides, another ally and leader of Puthiya Thamizhagam K. Krishnasamy lost in Ottapidaram by a few hundred votes. The DMK candidates as well as the allies had complained that the district secretary worked against them in the seats. The DMK is yet to decide on a organisational shake up in the Kongu districts of Erode, Salem, Coimbatore and Tiruppur.
Stalin visits churches to thank bishops:
DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on Tuesday visited the Don Bosco church in Kolathur constituency to thank its bishop and church authorities for their support in the Assembly elections. He also visited the churches at Perambur and GKN Colony and thanked the bishops and church authorities.
Later, a group of functionaries from Tiruvallur district belonging to the DMDK joined the DMK in the presence of Stalin. The Pallipet and RK Pet units of DMDK were dissolved and functionaries joined the DMK under the leadership of Tiruvallur (West) district deputy secretary M.R.T. Ravi.
