SALEM: In a dramatic development, the ‘Vanniyar Sangam’, bedrock of the OBC-Vanniyars based party, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Tamil Nadu, formally split at a function here on Saturday with the launch of a new organisation named, “Maaveeran J Guru Vanniyar Sangam’ and its new office-bearers vowing that they will oppose the PMK youth wing leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from wherever he may contest.
The ‘blatant sidelining and humiliation’ of family members of the late party veteran ‘Kaduvetti’ J Guru, who till his demise last year was the president of the ‘Vanniyar Sangam’, has led to this situation, declared Vengai Ayyanar, coordinator of the new ‘Maaveeran J Guru Vanniyar Sangam’.
Stating that ‘Kaduvetti’ Guru had “sacrificed” his entire life for the growth of the ‘Vanniyar Sangam’ till his last breath and had suffered so much to build the party, even risking imprisonment under NSA, Vengai Ayyanar said after the launch of the new Sangam, announced that the late icon’s mother, Kalyani will contest against Dr Anbumani Ramadoss in the coming elections from whichever constituency he might contest.
‘Kaduvetti’ Guru had been prominent PMK leader from Ariyalur district and a close lieutenant of PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, but died a broken man last year, even as his family members accused the party leadership of sidelining him. Hence, the virtual revolt by Guru’s kin has virtually led to a rival PMK being launched at Salem today.
Ayyanaar, along with Guru’s nephew, Vazhuvoor Mani, and his sister eenakshi, told reporters here since Dr Ramadoss had announced disbanding the ‘Vanniyar Sangam’, “we have formed a new Vanniyar Sangam in the name of Maaveeran J Guru Vanniyar Sangam” to protect the interests of the backward Vanniyar community in Tamil Nadu.
They alleged that Dr Ramadoss had engineered cases against eight members of Guru’s family in a bid to thwart their participation in today’s function. Further, Dr Ramadoss was being “opportunistic” before every election, simultaneously talking to “this party and that party”, apparently referring to both DMK and AIADMK for a tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Ayyanaar claimed that once Dr Ramadoss announced the PMK’s alliance, “many more people will quit and join us.” “We will take all steps for the protection and development of the Vanniyar community and the ‘Vanniyar Trust’ announced by the State government recently is an “eyewash”, he said. “Our move will certainly hit them (PMK) and we will field ‘Kaduvetti’ Guru’s mother for the Lok Sabha polls against Dr Anbumani Ramadoss,” they reiterated.
