DMK leaders to switch sides

It appears that Parithi Ilamvazhuthi is the most sought after politician nowadays.   Sources tell whispers that both the AIADMK and MDMK are coaxing Parithi to join their party.   While Vaiko is using Deputy General Secretary post as a new year offer, the ruling AIADMK is using corruption cases as a stick to woo Parithi.

Whispers had written in detail about Parithi’s discomfiture in the DMK in “Is the DMK falling apart?” in this column. However, the grand old man of Tamil Nadu politics M Karunanidhi’s attempts to bring this internal feud seems to have become futile.  M K Alagiri and senior member of the DMK Veerapandi Arumugam were pressurizing Karunanidhi to ensure that Parithi stays in the party. But an adamant M K Stalin was in no mood to relent and has reportedly put his foot down firmly. Now Parithi feeling ‘enough is enough’ is all set to jump the ship.

Whispers doing rounds is that MDMK’s general secretary Vaiko has offered the post of Deputy General Secretary to Parithi to woo him. This post fell vacant after Poet Kudiyarasu, who was MDMK’s Deputy General Secretary, passed away in the year 2002.  Vaiko feels that Parithi’s entry into the MDMK will boost the sagging morale of the party workers, after the party’s continuous debacles in all the elections. MDMK insiders say Vaiko an old friend of Parithi is personally talking to Parithi over phone and trying to convince him.

On the AIADMK’s side, one of its key leaders from Royapuram is conducting the negotiations.   Sources close to Parithi say that he has many things to loose as his activities in the last five years will definitely land him in trouble. Parithi had granted permission to 31 building ventures in April 2011, after the dates for elections were announced. Among them are Hotel Leela Ventures in Raja Annamalaipuram, Vicoans Infra Environment and Engineering Private Limited in Adyar, and Viceroy Hotels in MRC Nagar. For these three buildings the mandatory clearance from the Environment Ministry were not obtained as they come under the Costal Regulatory Zone.  However, Parithi had granted approvals for the 31 high rise buildings and also hurriedly conducted meetings when the Model Code of Conduct was in force.

Now the AIADMK is using these planning approvals given by Parithi as a threat to bring him into its fold.  But if Parithi joins the AIADMK and no action is taken against him, then Jayalalitha’s attempt to portray her government as a corruption free regime will become a joke.  Jayalalitha’s rhetoric in the recently concluded Collector & SPs conference to prevent corruption would sound hollow.  But party sources say, Parithi fearing a long jail term has made up his mind to join AIADMK and had sought appointment to meet ‘Amma’.   Sources say Amma too had given her nod to meet Parithi which may take place on anytime in the next 48 hours.

The AIADMK has also prepared to accommodate its prodigal son ‘Anitha Radhakrishnan’ in its flock.    Anitha Radhakrishnan who had quit the AIADMK and joined DMK and won as an MLA is likely to resign his post and come back to AIADMK.    Anitha Radhakrishnan, who too was threatened with land grab cases and corruption cases, has also agreed to resign his MLA post and not seek a re-election.  It is ironic that the same assets case against Anitha Radhakrishnan was used against him by the DMK government to make him switch loyalties.   

Also whispers doing rounds in the AIADMK circles is that...the party high command has prepared a list that has names of people who are sidelined and disappointed by M K Stalin's behaviour in the party and many DMK leaders are being approached to switch sides...Sources say very soon they will be knocking the doors of “Veda Nilayam”. However, a rattled DMK is gearing up to keep their flock together…Egmore party functionaries have been summoned by the DMK party high command to be present at Anna Arivaliyam on Friday morning and M K Stalin has instructed his loyalists to maintain vigil as his authority in the party is being challenged. 

Is history repeating itself for the DMK?

Revolt against M K Stalin

With M Karunanidhi worried about his favorite daughter Kanimozhi and M K Alagiri running for cover…Nowadays, the DMK's rising SON Stalin seems to be ruling the roost in the party. During the local body elections only M K Stalin’s loyalists were given a chance to contest at various levels. This despite deserving and winning candidate’s plea to contest elections fell on deaf years within the party. Sources say in many areas party men are extremely angry and dissatisfied with the state of affairs. Whispers doing rounds is that those who are dissatisfied and sidelined in the party are being kept under the surveillance of State intelligence. Sources say very soon they may be crossing the bridge…weather it will be Poes Garden or Vaiko's Thayagam is something that is yet to be confirmed. Is history repeating itself for the DMK?

T R Baalu in the Cabinet 

Looks like DMK Chief M Karunanidhi had just realized that how difficult it is for any politician to get things done at the National capital…this was the lesson he had learnt during his recent visit to Delhi. Even though he met the Prime Minister, UPA Chair Person Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister and Law Minister…but for a party like DMK that enjoyed utmost power at the center for over a decade is now seen as a political orphan. DMK MPs and other leaders have been reduced to a joke after the great 2G robbery. Getting an appointment from Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and even Sonia's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel seems to have become a herculean task for the DMK. With the two Cabinet Berths allotted for the DMK lying vacant...Whispers doing rounds is that after some realization and serious political calculations...The DMK Chief is now thinking about having at least one Cabinet berth filled…this is expected to happen after Kanimozhi is out on bail…sources say Karunanidhi has taken this decision so that they will have a strong person at the Center for lobbying. For the moment, T R Baalu is the only leader in the DMK who enjoys the blessings of both Kanimozhi and Raasathi Ammal. This is being done to ensure that some serious lobbying is done and Kanimozhi is out of the 2G mess by hook or crook. DMK insiders say a proposal in this regard will be sent by the DMK high command to the PM after Kanimozhi’s release from Tihar Jail.

Jaya likely to attend Guru Pooja

Whispers in Tamil Nadu was the first one to report  on how the State Intelligence department is making preparations for Jayalilathaa’s visit to Ramanathapuram for Guru Pooja…in Is there a rift in Tamil Nadu's Intelligence Wing. This after a team of Intelligence officials were sent to Ramanathupuram to gauge the mood of the public and ensure that the situation is under control. Whispers in Tamil Nadu had reported how this move by Intelligence DIG Pon.Manickavel had created a rift in the intelligence wing. 

Just 3 days ahead of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar’s “Guru Pooja” another set of senior intelligence officials have been asked to camp at Ramanathapuram…and Jaya TV has received orders from Poes Garden to send its crew members for Guru Pooja coverage during Amma's visit. This despite State’s intelligence chief and DGP K.Ramanujam making it categorical that Chief Minister should not attend Thevar Guru Pooja as it could trigger more animosity between Dalit and Thevar communities in the wake of Paramakudi violence. But, Sasikala or her family members who belongs to the Thevar community are not willing to buy this argument…as Thevar community is AIADMK’s traditional vote bank. Sources also say, Jayalilathaa is very particular on attending Guru Pooja this time because of the bitter experience last year. Her convoy was stoned by DMK supporters when she visited Ramanathapuram for Guru Pooja…at that time an angry Jaya had vowed that she will visit Ramanathapuram for Guru Pooja only after becoming the Chief Minister.

Parithi Ilamvazuthi a traitor!

He was the dalit face of the party and a staunch loyalist of M Karunanidhi... even before A Raja became the poster boy of the DMK… DMK’s former deputy General Secretary Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, who resigned from the post just a few days back, has been shown the door by M K Stalin. For quite sometime there was a cold war between the DMK's rising son M K Stalin and Paruthi Ilamvazuthi over several issues…when things went out of control and Paruthi felt that he is being repeatedly humiliated by M K Stalin in the party... he decided to quit his post, and offered his resignation…hoping that the DMK Chief will intervene. Call it a stunt or a threat…but Parithi’s calculations miserably went wrong…Sources say though Karunanidhi wanted to meet Paruthi Ilamvazuthi in person and ask for his clarification…M K Stalin ensured that this meeting between the two never takes place. Sources say M K Stalin had complained to his father that being a senior functionary of the party Paruthi Ilamvazuthi did not send his resignation directly to the party HQ or the leader...but he had released it to the media which he considers as a huge embarrassment for the party. Whispers doing rounds in the DMK circles is that Stalin wanted his loyalist A K S Vijayan to be appointed as deputy General Secretary of the party – reason yet another voice to support him in the battle of succession. M K Stalin was actively seen lobbying for A K S Vijayan…but Karunanidhi, decided to appoint V P Duraisamy, who was the former deputy speaker. Now a shattered Paruthi Ilamvazuthi is all set to decide on his next course of action…will he be knocking the doors of Poes Garden?? Remains to be seen.

Captain develops cold feet

Whispers doing rounds is that DMDK leader Vijaykanth has developed cold feet after the outcome of the local body polls…Party leaders and functionaries from various districts have been summoned by Captain & Co to receive their share of dose. Also captain has formed a core group to keep a tab on his own MLA’s so that to ensure that they don’t jump the ship at any cost. Sources say that  Captain is so scared that his MLAs would be poached by the ruling party In fact, Captain has been meeting his MLAs in person to keep his flock together.  But sources say, intelligence wing is working overtime to take some pound of flesh from DMDK.