AIADMK MP Maitreyan says he echoed majority view

AIADMK Rajya Sabha member V. Maitreyan on Wednesday said he had echoed the views of the majority of party cadres in his Facebook post on Tuesday, not just his own.

The simmering discontentment within the unified AIADMK on Tuesday came out in open with Maitreyan stating that three months have passed after the merger of the OPS-EPS factions after the earlier split.

"Months are rolling by but what about hearts," Maitreyan posted on his Facebook.

Refuting AIADMK leader and Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai's comment that it was his (Maitreyan's) own views, Maitreyan on Wednesday made it clear that he had echoed the views of the majority of the party cadres.

Maitreyan said party office bearers at all levels should not push away cadres belonging to Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's group.

Maitreyan was the first known face to support Panneerselvam when he revolted against then party leader and the now jailed V.K. Sasikala.

He was one of the key persons in the faction led by Panneerselvam before it merged with the one led by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami three months back.

This is the first time an AIADMK leader has hinted obliquely that all is not well between the two merged factions.

Following the merger, Panneerselvam was made the Deputy Chief Minister and the other terms of agreement was formation of a steering committee with members from both the factions.

An AIADMK leader, not wanting to be quoted, told IANS: "One of the issues is the dual posts -- in the government and the party -- held by the Ministers. The members of Panneerselvam faction did not get any major party position after the merger."

Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said there was no division within the party.

--IANS

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