In Tirunelveli, it is wait and watch for AIADMK cadre

Former party functionaries extend support to Panneerselvam

While most of the AIADMK cadre and office-bearers have decided to adopt a ‘wait-and-watch’ approach till he verdicit in the disproportionate assets case against general secretary V. K. Sasikala, J. Ilavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran is out, former secretary of Palayamkottai unit S.D. Kamaraj openly expressed his support to Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam through digital flex banners with images of the Chief Minister and former Speaker P.H. Pandian on Wednesday.

Former MLA of Vasudevanallur S. Duraiyappa also extended his support along with incumbent A. Manoharan. However, I.S. Inbadurai of Radhapuram, R. Murugaiah Pandian of Ambasamudram, C. Selvamohandas Pandian of Tenkasi and V.M. Rajalakshmi of Sankarankovil, who is also Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, are with Ms. Sasikala.

“More MLAs will come to our camp very soon,” Mr. Manoharan told The Hinduover phone from Chennai.

Endorsing his views, a senior AIADMK office-bearer said: “The present situation may change in a big way in favour of Mr. Panneerselvam, who presumably enjoys the goodwill of grass-root workers and neutral voters.”

Anticipating untoward incidents following the political developments in Chennai on Tuesday night, police personnel were deployed across Tirunelveli district on Wednesday at important points. No untoward incident was reported in any part of the district, barring effigy burning incidents at Kurukkalpatti and Thaazhaiyooththu by supporters of Ms. Sasikala.

When walkers came to the VOC Ground in Palayamkottai in the evening, they were stopped by policemen, who told them that visitors would not be allowed inside the sports arena, which was the protest venue for jallikattu supporters recently, for the next couple of days.

Thoothukudi

Former MLA G.V. Markandeyan extended support to Mr. Panneerselvam at a meeting convened at Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district. Scores of supporters of the Chief Minister raised slogans saying that their voice saying ‘Amma’ was the only leader of the AIADMK and nobody could replace her. Meanwhile, the cadres of Deepa Peravai expressed support to Mr. Panneerselvam.

Nagercoil

Chairman of Kanniyakumari District Milk Producers Cooperative Union and MGR Youth Wing’s district secretary S.A. Asokan come out in ‘support of Mr. Panneerselvam. Former Kanniyakumari MLA Muthukrishnan urged the Chief Minister to withdraw his resignation. Mr. Panneerselvam was trained by the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and he had the potential to lead the party with his soft approach, the former MLA added.