Tamil Nadu - Dharmapuri   

Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri districts not represented in DMK Ministry

S. Prasad

Factional feud ruined chances of ministerial berth

Dharmapuri: Despite Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts giving seven MLAs out of 10 to the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) the districts will have no representation in the Karunanidhi Cabinet. Factional feud within the district unit of the DMK in Dharmapuri is believed to have scuttled the chances of getting a ministerial berth for the two districts. For the first time it was Mr. Karunanidhi who made it possible to have a representation for this backward region in his Cabinet in 1996. The then district secretary, V. Mullaivendan, served as the Minister for Information and Publicity during the period.

Subsequently, the AIADMK Government led by J. Jayalalithaa made M. Thambidurai (Bargur) as the Education Minister for a short period. Later K.P. Anbazhagan (Palacode) was made the Minister for Information and Publicity. He also held the additional portfolio of Local Administration. At present the DMK has three MLAs, including P.N. Periyannan from Pennagaram, V. Mullaivendan from Morapur and T. Senguttuvan from Krishnagiri. The party had won the prestigious Pennagaram seat after a gap of 35 years.

Party cadres and the public expected that Mr. Mullaivendan would get a ministerial berth again. However he was denied. According to party sources, internal squabbles within the district unit have been the main reason for lack of representation in the Cabinet. While P.N. Periyannan is a new entrant and is heading the district unit Mr. Mullaivendan leads another faction. With Periyannan leading the district unit allotting a ministerial berth to him would only pave the way for further ripples within the party. However, various sections of society from this region are disappointed over lack of representation. They feel that this region desperately needs a minister to shed its industrial and social backwardness.

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Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri districts not represented in DMK Ministry

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