MDMK all set for split; rebel leaders lose posts

Chennai, Dec 24: The 13-year-old Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) floated by firebrand leader Vaiko after being expelled from the DMK is all set to suffer a split with two senior rebel leaders, L Ganesan and Gingee N Ramachandran, virtually being packed off from the party.

The week-long crisis turned worse last evening when Mr Vaiko, after an urgent meeting of district secretaries and other bodies, removed Presidium Chairman Ganesan and Deputy General Secretary Gingee N Ramachandran from the party posts.

Even as the two leaders were holding confabulations with their supporters in the districts to chalk out their next course of action, Mr Vaiko clipped their wings by removing them from party posts and disqualified them from participating in any of the party fora.

Surprisingly, the two leaders were not removed from the primary membership of the party and this was seen as a move by the high command to make them quit the party on their own.

They were only allowed to continue as members of party's village units.

Mr Vaiko's action had come at a time when Mr Ganesan openly declared that being the Presidium Chairman, he had all rights to take part in the meeting of district secretaries convened by Mr Vaiko for tomorrow.

Though the rebel leaders claimed to enjoy the support of at least ten district secretaries, it appeared Mr Vaiko had the support of the majority as nearly 35 of them joined him in the ''Padayatra'' and pledged their support. Mr Ganesan had said he would convene the General Council but declined to disclose the date and venue. Sources close to the rebels said they might challenge Mr Vaiko's action and expel him from the party.

The rebel leader had accused Mr Vaiko of trying to disband the party and join the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK), while Mr Vaiko blamed the ruling DMK for trying to create a wedge in the party and instigate the ''traitors'' to capture ''Thayagam,'' the MDMK headquarters.

The MDMK, known for its organisational set up and discipline, suffered a major setback when Mr Ganesan, praised DMK Chief M Karunanidhi for securing reservation for the Backward Classes in the parliament.

His serious differences with party leadership came to the fore when Mr Ganesan openly revolted and criticised Mr Vaiko of having lost his credibility in the political arena and would no longer lead to the party's triumph.

Mr Vaiko's credibility had taken a serious beating when he chose to align with the AIADMK, whose leader J Jayalalithaa had put him behind the bars for 19 months under POTA for supporting the LTTE, he said, setting the stage for a confrontation.

Party sources said the rebel leaders' hunger for power was the bone of contention and they openly revolted when Mr Vaiko refused to give his nod for their Ministerial berth in the Manmohan Singh Government. Mr Vaiko had floated the MDMK 13 years ago after being expelled from the DMK.

The question is 'will Vaiko himself be expelled from his own party?' Mr Ganesan, who himself is Mr Vaiko's mentor in the latter's fight against Mr Karunanidhi, strangely raised a banner of revolt against his own ''shishya'' in the present power struggle.

Though Mr Vaiko was trying to blame the ruling DMK, saying the protests in open by Mr Ganesan and Mr Ramachandran were inspired by the DMK to shift the focus away from his Padayatra on Mullaperiyar issue, actually it was not fine with MDMK.

Mr Vaiko, who had managed to avert a revolt in the party when he aligned with the AIADMK prior to May Assembly elections, appeared to be caught unaware this time.

UNI