Chennai: A day after the rebellion by 10 senior functionaries of the party, loyalists of DMDK founder Vijayakanth on Wednesday rallied behind him and defended the decision to join hands with People’s Welfare Alliance comprising MDMK, VCK, CPI(M) and CPI.
They also hit out at the rebels and accused them of acting at the behest of DMK. DMDK headquarters secretary and legislator B. Parthasarathy questioned the claims of Chandrakumar. “Captain will forgive enemies but not betrayers. Our goal is to make our Captain the chief minister. In pursuance of that goal we built this party and (now) are fighting election by aligning with PWA which has accepted Vijayakanth as CM candidate,” he said.
Mr Parthasarathy said that the party’s general council had given the power to Captain to take a decision on the choice of alliance. “Hence, all the loyal cadres should accept whatever decision taken by him,” he said.
He said that Chandrakumar, the leader of the rebels, was not a ‘man’, questioning his masculinity. He also said that those who have deserted the party will not be able to break the party. Another Captain loyalist, Anagai Murugesan, said ‘ungrateful’ Chandrakumar was a traitor.
DMDK treasurer A.R. Elangovan also defended the alliance with PWA and asserted “our party will win the polls and our captain will capture power, our sympathies are for Chandrakumar”. All of them alleged that Chandrakumar and others enjoyed the benefits of being in the DMDK so far but are now deserting the party for personal benefit.
