Pudukottai: A day after AIADMK rebel MLA C Ve Shanmugam launched a scathing attack on party general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami and his leadership, Viralimalai MLA and former minister C Vijaya Baskar followed suit on Monday in a seemingly coordinated attack over the party leadership’s ‘tendency to sack dissenters and view hardworking, loyal cadres as adversaries or traitors.’
While Vijaya Baskar has been part of the rebel camp ever since the poll debacle, this is the first time he has publicly criticised the leadership, albeit in a cryptic manner. “A leadership that views hardworking, loyal cadres as adversaries and a political culture that treats questioning as a crime do not pave the path to victory. History remembers not how many people were removed, but how many were united and how many battles were won,” he said in an X post.
On June 13, EPS sacked three Pudukottai North district functionaries, who were Vijaya Baskar loyalists, in what is seen as continuation of his removal as Pudukottai North district secretary. This was after Baskar, along with 24 other MLAs, voted in favour of the TVK govt in the confidence motion in the assembly. Since then, four of those MLAs have resigned and joined TVK, while other senior leaders, including S P Velumani, have reconciled with EPS. However, C Ve Shanmugam and Vijaya Baskar neither made peace with the leadership nor left the party, even as it grapples with an exodus to TVK. “To have removed him from his party post over asking for a democratic discussion is unfair, given he has been loyal to the party for so long and was considered close to EPS,” a source close to the MLA said.
“Former minister Vijaya Baskar and I are still with AIADMK, and it is unclear why we were removed from our party positions. In a way, the general secretary is indirectly asking us to leave the party,” said Balu, a union secretary who was among the three functionaries who were sacked.
Two union secretaries and one north district deputy secretary were removed. However, Palanivel, who replaced Vijaya Baskar and is part of the EPS faction, said they were removed for engaging in anti-party activities.
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About the Author
V Srivatsal
Reporting for TOI from Trichy on education, health, Tasmac and central govt bodies. Covering two other districts that include Karur and Pudukkottai. Consumed by news more often than not; and when not lost in the world of cinema.
