Sasikala’s family members are rank outsiders and there is nothing wrong in consolidation of Kongu Vellalars against ‘family rule’, says P.R.G. Arun Kumar, MLA from Coimbatore North.

Coimbatore (North) legislator P R G Arun Kumar, who has just resigned the post of Coimbatore AIADMK urban district general secretary, says the relatives of Sasikala can continue as party members. But they should not be projected as leaders and should not be allowed to hold reins of the party. He is all against the elevation of TTV. Dinakaran to the deputy general secretary post he was given up.

Arun, Kumar, who has a good following due to his good work done in the constituency, is back in the City and has abstained from the trust vote and the resultant melee in the assembly on Saturday. He `escaped’ from the Golden Bay Resort where party MLAs were `held in captive’. He is now camping in Vannankovil near Perianaickenpalayam with thousands of his supporters, watching the developments from a `distance’ and spoke to Covaipost at length.

Q: In the prevailing choas in AIADMK, who do you support?

A: I want a unified AIADMK, and the two leaves symbol, and I am ready to accept any leader and work under him, whether it may be O. Panneerselvam or Edapadi K. Palanisamy. But I am very clear on one thing. I cannot brook any influence of Sasikala and her family members in the party affairs or in the administration.

I see them as outsiders who want to grab power and want to keep an iron hold on the party, even after Sasikala has been jailed. I am dead against this.

Q: Earlier, you had clearly said you are with O. Panneerselvam and now you say you will accept Palanisamy if he emerged as a leader. Isn’t there a contradiction?

A: I can accept any emerging, promising leader. After all, Edapadi K. Palanisamy represents west Tamil Nadu and Kongu Vellalars. What is wrong in supporting him, as long as he is not treated as a puppet of V.K.Sasikala? I repeat I want nothing of a family-run party. For me the party and its symbol is more important than individuals.

Q: Is there any possibility of identifying a consensus leader now?

A: Why not..? The executive council and general body meeting of the party should be convened to arrive at a solution and elect a consensus leader.

Q: Why you are dead against.Sasikala and her team?

A: I understand that they the family members of Sasikala wanted to run the party as a family affair. So the elevation and appointment of TTV Dinarkaran as party deputy general secretary. He had been ousted from the party. This is against party laws. Didn’t Sasikala say the reins of party and administration should be with one leader? Why then do they not make Palanisamy party deputy general secretary? I was given the ticket by Jayalalitha, and I have nothing to do with “Mannargudi Mafia”.

Q: Earlier Arukutty, the Kaundampalayam MLA, had asked S.P. Velumani and others to leave Sasikala camp en masse and join the rival camp. Now you say that Palanisamy should be made Deputy General Secretary. Could this be seen as a consolidation of Kongu Vellalars against the Mukkulathors-stronghold in the party?

A: If a strong leader emerges from Kongumandalam, the traditional support base of AIADMK, it would something to be proud of for the whole region. There is nothing wrong in Kongu vellalars asserting the rightful place in the party.