War of words erupt between AIADMK, PMK in TN

Chennai, Jan 4 (BPNS)

The AIADMK and the political arm of the powerful Vanniyar community, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) who were earlier coalition partners are now at each other’s throats.

This was after the PMK state president and former Union Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss stated in the open that the AIADMK was in disarray and that the party has split into four groups.

He also said that the development in the AIADMK has led to a positive situation for the PMK in the state and that the party was at a growing pace in Tamil Nadu.

This infuriated the AIADMK and party spokesman and former minister, D. Jayakumar came out heavily against the PMK leadership and said that it was due to the support provided by the AIADMK that the PMK got the election commission recognition in 1988 and that the PMK should be grateful for that.

He also said that it was the late AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa who had provided five seats to the PMK in 1998, and later in 2001 she had offered the PMK 27 seats.  He also harshly said that the PMK was kicking the ladder it had climbed referring to the party state president Anbumani’s statement on AIADMK.

This evoked sharp reaction from the PMK  and the party spokesman, K. Baalu said that it was the PMK that had given support to Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) to continue in power. He also called upon the AIADMK interim general secretary, EPS should clarify on the remarks made by D. Jayakumar. The party leader also said that the PMK had never made any tall claims on its support to late leader Jayalalithaa or EPS.

The PMK has been trying to develop into a major political force in Tamil Nadu and to move upwards rather than being branded as a political party of the Vanniyar community. The party with its strong Vanniyar vote base wants to expand from this vote base and to become a strong political opponent to the DMK on the turf of Tamil Nadu. The party is eyeing the differences that have cropped up in the AIADMK after the exit of V.K. Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran and the recent expulsion of O. Panneerselvam from the party.

Dr. R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic and Development Foundation (SEDF), a think tank based out of Madurai while speaking to BPNS said, “ The PMK is trying to catapult itself into the opposition space but it’s not that easy as AIADMK is a major political party spread across the state while PMK is still a party with its strength rooted in Vanniyar pockets. However, if the AIADMK goes for a downward spell, then the possibility of the PMK emerging is not to be ruled out.”