Narendra Modi with us, nobody can shake AIADMK, says Rajendra Balaji

Madurai/Chennai: With his penchant for stoking controversy, state dairy minister K.T.Rajendra Balaji has declared that none can shake the AIADMK because Prime Minister Narendra Modi “is there to help us”. 

“Until Modi is there, we have nothing to worry about. Even (US President) Trump or Obama can do nothing to our party. Whatever trouble we face, PM Modi is there to help us”, said Balaji while addressing party functionaries at Periyakulam near Theni, hometown of deputy CM O. Panneerselvam.

“Aha, the cat is out of the bag”, responded AIADMK (Sasikala) faction’s propaganda secretary Nanjil Sampath, whose boss TTV Dhinakaran has been accusing the BJP leadership of meddling in the AIADMK affairs in order to prop up the Edappadi Palaniswami government. 

Dairy minister Balaji had earlier courted controversy by accusing private dairies of high adulteration that endangered health of infants and elders in the state—the issue is before the Madras high court after the dairies petitioned the court.

Post-Jaya disorder dogs AIADMK

Expressing confidence that Chief Minister K Palaniswami's camp would get the 'two leaves' symbol, Balaji said, “The symbol will come to EPS camp... there is no doubt about it.” He claimed that 92 per cent of general council members supported the Palaniswami camp.

Seeking to blunt Balaji's optimism, the party's Thiruparankundram A A K Bose questioned the interference of Modi in AIADMK affairs. 

“Modi got his strength to destroy the AIADMK only because some senior party functionaries-ettappans (traitors)-were greedy for power”, declared Bose at the party's 46th foundation day celebration at hometown.

The AIADMK has been in serious problems since the demise of its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa last December, going through multiple splits and realignments. Though the main rivals Edappadi Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam reunited late August, reports speak repeatedly of simmering differences, bordering on serious dissent even affecting the running of the government. 

The post-Jaya disorder found its latest demonstration in the party presidium E. Madhusudhanan's attack on fisheries minister D. Jayakumar, slamming him for demanding the RK bypoll seat for a member of the fishing community. 

Obviously, Madhusudhanan is upset that the minister is trying to deny him the seat as he had been the candidate in the April 12 bypoll that was cancelled-he was in the OPS camp then and was pitted against EPS's candidate TTV Dhinakaran.

“Jayakumar has been trying to destroy my political career even from 1996. He now wants to take away this seat but then, what has he done for his fishermen community till now? He could not help when fishermen are agitating against Chinese engines being fitted for fishing boats. He has been actually helping those using Chinese engines”, thundered Madhusudhanan, demanding that CM Palaniswami and deputy CM OPS should take 'stern' action against Jayakumar.