Rift forces ADMK to postpone general council

CHENNAI: Internal strife in Tamil Nadu’s ruling Anna DMK has forced it to put off its general council meeting. Election Commission sources have conirmed that the ADMK has sought time beyond December to hold the meeting.

As per EC speciications, the meeting should have been held before December 2018. The party headquarters has said the meeting would be organised before the parliamentary election expected early in 2019.

Oficially, the reason for seeking the postponement of the meeting has not been revealed, but ADMK sources conided that the ight between the factions led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and his deputy O. Pannerselvam has intensiied.

At the same time, the main opposition DMK has been consolidating its alliance with lesser parties who would matter in an election. Some strain had developed in the alliance after senior DMK leader Durai Murugan commented that the MDMK and the VCK are just friends and not political allies. DMK chief MK Stalin then moved to pacify them.

On Thursday the DMK hosted a meeting of allies. It was decided to stage a joint protest in Tiruchi over the Mekedatu issue. The Centre’s clearance to Karnataka for building a dam across river Cauvery in Mekedatu has drawn fury in Tamil Nadu.

Stalin asserted at the meeting that the allies continue to remain with the DMK. MDMK chief Vaiko and VCK’S Thol Tirumanavalan attended.

Themeetingdemandedthatthegovernment summon an all-party meeting for a joint ight against the dam plan.

Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, said the ADMK government’s “negligent” attitude that resulted in the Centre’s permission to Karnataka. He had demanded that the Tamil Nadu government approach the Supreme Court to obtain stay for the Centre’s permission and Karnataka’s efforts for a dam.

Thirumalavalavan announced that his party will be ighting alongside the DMK to counter “religious politics.”

“We support the DMK and there in no issues in our relationship. The DMK, Congress, MDMK, VCK, Left and Muslim parties are all very close.

We should become and alliance and the DMK should announce this alliance plan. This group of parties will become allies,” said Thirumavalavan.

Stalin made an explanation on the electoral alliance. “Alliances will be formalised closer to the elections. Technically, alliance means seat negotiations and the like, which is likely to happen during that period. It will probably happen in February,” he said.