Dissidents MDMK leaders to hold general body meeting

Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, Dec 23 (UNI) The rift in the Marumalarchi DMK deepened further with dissident leader L Ganesan MP today announcing that he would convene a rival general body meeting of the party shortly.

The date and venue of the meeting would be announced very soon, he told newspersons here.

Mr Ganesan, who is also the Presidium chairman of the MDMK, said he would hold discussions with his supporters in every district to take an important decision on the future course of action.

''I have to consult other important leaders of the party, who are associated with me for the past 40 years before deciding on whether to remain in the MDMK or quit the party or join the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK),'' he said.

Mr Ganesan said while he would visit Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts tomorrow, Party Deputy General Secretary Gingee N Ramachandran would undertake a tour to Villupuram, Cuddalore and old North Arcot districts to meet their supporters.

About the option of joining the DMK, he said ''anything might happen and I don't want to disclose it now.'' Earlier, he along with his supporters met State Transport Minister and senior DMK leader K N Nehru and Forests Minister N Selvaraj here and held discussions with them.

The meeting assumes significance as speculations are rife that Ganesan might quit the MDMK and join the ruling DMK.

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