AIADMK rebels’ troubled relationship with EPS

The resignation of the AIADMK’s MLA from Karur, M.R. Vijayabhaskar, illustrates the fragile nature of the rebels’ truce with party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Mr. Vijayabhaskar, who held the portfolio of Transport during 2016-21, when Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam, and Mr. Palaniswami were Chief Ministers, was among the 25 dissidents who sided with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government during the motion on vote of confidence moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in the Assembly on May 13, defying their party’s whip.

However, two weeks later, he and 20 others returned to the fold of the faction led by Mr. Palaniswami, who had got the disqualification proceedings dropped against them by writing to Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar.

Since then, there has been, by and large, an eerie silence on the part of the dissidents.

‘Suppressing dissent’

Two weeks ago, only former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam, the prominent face of the party in the Villupuram district, accused the AIADMK general secretary of “refusing to correct errors and suppressing dissent” within the party.

Unlike Mr. Shanmugam, Mr. Vijayabhaskar did not launch a tirade against Mr. Palaniswami, but it was quite obvious that he did not feel comfortable with what had been offered to him organisationally. On Thursday last, when Mr. Palaniswami announced new party positions for many leaders, including a number of rebels, Mr. Vijayabhaskar was appointed one of the joint propaganda secretaries. Most of the rebels held the post of district secretary, considered the most powerful position in the party in their respective areas.

Contrary to the custom in the party on getting fresh assignments, the former Transport Minister did not meet the general secretary and thank him for the posting.

A few other senior leaders and former Ministers, Natham R. Viswanathan and S.P. Velumani too, who were made deputy general secretaries, have yet to meet Mr. Palaniswami.

Expected to join TVK

Mr. Vijayabhaskar’s move follows a similar action on the part of his namesake and fellow legislator (representing Viralimalai) a few weeks ago. The two dissidents are expected to join the TVK.

Asked whether the quality of “obstinacy” on the part of Mr. Palaniswami is coming in the way of achieving an effective compromise between him and the dissidents, the party’s MP (Rajya Sabha) and supporter of the general secretary M. Dhanapal replied in the negative and wondered: “Does not the action of Edappadiar [Mr. Palaniswami] giving the dissidents new positions in the party reflect that he is quite flexible and considerate?”

‘Ruling party desperate’

The MP contended that as the ruling party was “desperate” to free itself of the hold of the two Communist parties and the Viduthalai Chirtuthaigal Katchi, it is wooing legislators of the AIADMK to its side, so the TVK can acquire “greater strength, if not a majority of its own.”