Madurai: The day after DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin gave an inspiring speech to party workers in Madurai, two groups of his loyalists indulged in fisticuffs right outside Thiru Nagar Taluk office during the filing of nominations for the Thiruparankundram by-election.
The two faction leaders -K.Thalapathi, DMK Madurai Urban District Secretary and P. Murthy, DMK MLA and Madurai Rural District Secretary - fought regarding who is supreme in controlling the local unit. They did so right in front of party deputy general secretary I. Periyaswamy, who is also election in-charge for Thiruparankundram byelection.
Murthy, who was upset over the party choice of Dr P. Saravanan, a supporter of Thalapathi, for the Thiruparankundram assembly constituency, had been admonishing him openly for the last few days. On Monday morning, members of both factions accompanied the candidate to file nomination. When nearing the election office, Murthy and Thalapathi, along with their supporters, entered into a heated argument in public. The senior leaders then pacified them before the situation got out of control.
Party sources claimed that ever since the former union minister M.K. Alagiri and his loyalists were sidelined and expelled from the party, Murthy and Thalapathi had been attempting to take control over party affairs in Madurai. The duo also got into the good books of Stalin by helping in bringing the Madurai DMK unit under his fold.
Thalapathi, who resides in Thiruparankundram, is influential in the town as he served as party south district secretary. However, after he was appointed as urban district in-charge, Murthy took control of the party affairs in the area, sources said. Thalapathi and Murthy also had difference in selecting candidates for the local body election, which was cancelled by the court recently.
However, a senior DMK leader said, "It will not affect the election prospectus of the party candidate in the byelection. It is a minor issue common to all political parties" he added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Saravanan declared his total asserts to be Rs 12.25 crore, including movable and immovable properties. He also mentioned that two cases were pending against him with the Madurai City Police.
