Petitions challenging MDMK resolution posted to Feb 7

Chennai, Jan 29 (UNI) Madras High Court today posted to February seven the hearing on the petitions challenging the resolution, permanently removing Presidium Chairman and Deputy General Secretary from their post, passed at the General Council meeting of the MDMK held on January ten.

Justice C Nagappan adjourned to February seven, the petitions filed by L Ganesan and Gingee N Ramachandran.

Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko filed his counter seeking to dismiss the petitions filed by Mr Ganesan and Mr Ramachandran.

In his counter, Vaiko submitted that as Ramachandran was one of the Deputy General Secretary of the MDMK, he can only carry out instructions or directions given by the general secretary.

Therefore, the claim of Ramachandran that he was holding the highest and most powerful organising body of the party was totally false and contrary to the rules and regulations of the MDMK at any point of time.

Mr Vaiko said he had taken the decision to align with AIADMK at the 15th General Council Meeting held in March 2006 for the Assembly elections and the reasons were clearly made known in the very first resolution adopted in the meeting. Mr Ganesan himself proposed the resolution, Vaiko added.

He said Ganesan was now making the contention contrary to his own resolution only with an 'ulterior motive' of hiding the intention of petitioners as they became the tools to fulfill the treachery design of the elements enimical to MDMK. Ramachandran, also moved a second resolution to work for the success of AIADMK in the assembly election.

The fact that he had suffered incarceration under POTA cannot overweigh the interest of welfare of the State. He was very much concerned about the betterment of people than any personal welfare.

Ganesan and Ramachandran wanted to become ministers at the Centre at any cost, Mr Vaiko said.

Having found that their ambition could not be achieved against the decision taken at the General Council meeting of not getting a berth in the Union Government, they got upset and began to bring a disrepute on the dignity of the party. The party rules empowered the General Secretary to preside over the meeting if the chairman was unable to serve the party. Therefore, it was incorrect to state that except the chairperson no other was empowered to preside over the meeting, Vaiko added.

He submitted that the Ganesan and Ramachandran were permanently removed from their post by a resolution adopted at the 16th General Council meeting on January ten.

The allegation that he was contemplating to merge the party with AIADMK was highly malicious and totally false, Mr Vaiko said adding that he continued to function as General Secretary and enjoyed the full confidence of two out of four MPs, 6 MLAs and 1,300 members of general council.

UNI