Chennai, March 4 (BPNS)

In a major embarrassment to the ruling DMK, 20 councilors were taken to resort near Puducherry after internal squabbles came to the fore in the party with the announcement of R. Sundari as the Mayor of Cuddalore.

There was stiff competition between Sundari who is the wife of party’s town secretary Raja and Geetha, wife of party district treasurer Gunasekharan. Raja is reportedly close to the state agriculture minister, M.R.K Panneerselvam.

Of the 11councilors taken to the resort near Puducherry, a majority belongs to the DMK but also has one AIADMK councilor and a BJP councilor.

Sources in the party told BPNS that the other side owing allegiance to Gunasekaran had taken away the councilors and the side close to Raja is conducting parleys with the councilors to vote in favour of R. Sundari.

The DMK led front won 34 wards of the 45 wards in Cuddalore and was enjoying a brutal majority when the sudden development left the party red-faced. Of the DMK alliance,27 seats were won by DMK alone, 3 each by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Thamizhaga Vazhvumuzhivai Katchi(TVK), and one seat was won by Congress.

While the DMK leaders are tight-lipped on the outcome, the Sundari camp is confident that she would be elected as Mayor with the support of the party high command. A senior DMK leader who is privy to the developments in Cuddalore while speaking to BPNS said, “ The DMK is a cadre-based political party and when we announce the name of a Mayor candidate it is final. Opinions can be aired in the party forums but once the decision is taken, all the cadres have to abide by it.”