Chennai: Fissures within the “unified AIADMK” came out in the open on Tuesday with the OPS supporter V Maitreyan’s comments that “hearts have not synced” even three months after the merger of both the factions. The Rajya Sabha MP is blaming the party bigwigs of “ignoring” the interests of those aligned with O Pannerselvam.
However, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, a confidant of chief minister Palaniswami, rejected all talk of misunderstanding within the AIADMK and counselled Maitreyan to air his grievances, if any, within the party forum rather than coming out in the open. Political observers said Maitreyan’s statement was significant and it is an alarm bell for the Palaniswami camp that they should keep those who came with Panneerselvam in “good humour” to ensure stability of the government.
They said close aides of Panneerselvam have been upset with the CM for not giving them appropriate roles in the party and govermen tafter the merger.
“This has led to many seniors in the party to feel they are being sidelined. Maitreyan has come out in the open and if the situation is not corrected, many more would come in public to air their grievances”, a member of the OPS team said.
Maitreyan was the first elected representative of the AIADMK to put his weight behind Panneerselvam on the night of February 7 this year following his rebellion against V. K. Sasikala's leadership. He had also played a major role in the merger of the two factions and was in fact the point person of the camp for the BJP that negotiated the unification in August.
“Today marks the end of three months of merger of EPS-OPS faction and the beginning of the fourth month. Months have passed, what about hearts?” he posted on his Facebook page early Tuesday morning, setting off a political storm in the state. Maitreyan's comments came a fortnight after Palaniswami declared in Panneerselvam's home district Theni that they would function as “double-barrel” gun for the betterment of Tamil Nadu.
Though Palaniswami himself did not comment on Maitreyan's post, his cabinet colleague Jayakumar brushed aside suggestions about crack in the party by maintaining that all was well within the AIADMK. “All is well in the AIADMK.
There is no difference of opinion and we are all united. The party and the government are performing according to the expectations of the people. We are all united”, Jayakumar said.
When pressed to comment on Maitreyan's statement that suggested differences within the unified party, Jayakumar counselled the MP not to air his grievances outside the party forum.
“Sometimes, problems may crop up within the party and the best way to resolve them is to discuss it within ourselves and come to a conclusion. Anyway, Maitreyan has not said something that is controversial,” Jayakumar said.
Political observers and insiders feel that discontent has been brewing in the party after the merger as Palaniswami strengthened his hold within the AIADMK and the Government, without ceding space to anyone, including Panneerselvam.
Insiders say a few people who formed the core team of OPS faction expected key positions in the party and none of the demands put forth by the team has been met so far. “So this kind of protest was expected”, another leader said.
