Disappointed with their leader’s decision to join the People’s Welfare Alliance, six DMDK district secretaries and four MLAs announced on Monday at a press conference that they wanted Vijayakanth to reconsider allying with the multi-party third front.
During a press conference at the Chennai Press Club, Chandrakumar, DMDK’s District Secretary from Erode said, "We are not coming out of DMDK. We are only trying to reach out to our captain through the media. We want an alliance with DMK only.”
The rebels also said that the PWF-DMDK alliance was suicidal and it will only benefit Jayalalithaa. “We want our captain to re-think on his decision with PWF. The decision taken by DMDK is suicidal. We will only loose and AIADMK will win."
“Four MLAs, six district secretaries and party functionaries drafted a letter to Vijayakanth explaining the condition of the party, but he didn't respond to us,” Chandrakumar added.
The rebels also alleged that DMDK had joined PWF at the instigation of AIADMK.
Talking about the decision to join PWF, he said that the decision was taken by Sudheesh, DMDK’s Youth Wing Secretary and Premalatha, DMDK Women Wing Secretary and Vijayakanth’s wife. Sudheesh is Premalatha’s brother.
DMDK’s Kanyakumari District Secretary S Dinesh and North Chennai DMDK Secretary Yuvaraj joined DMK last week and had blamed DMDK leader Vijayakanth for the allying with PWF without the consent of party members.
Observers believe that following the decision of the party high-command to shut-down talks with DMK and join PWF, rebellion was brewing within the DMDK and key members of the party were expected to raise their voice against the decision.
Though few other district secretaries have quit the DMDK recently, Chandrakumar's rebellion will impact the DMDK more. The Erode strongman of the party has been with DMDK ever since the party started was its propaganda secretary right from the beginning.