Tensions flared within the DMK at a booth committee’ meeting in Pudukkottai North District, as Urban Development Minister K.N. Nehru, along with Minerals And Mines Minister S Regupathy and Minister of Backward Classes Welfare Meyyanathan, faced a hostile reception from their own party cadres. DMK circle secretaries and local members obstructed the ministers’ entry, waving protest banners and demanding the immediate replacement of the Pudukkottai North City in-charge.
What Was The Dispute?
There were two separate flashpoints during the event the first arose when supporters of Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Meyyanathan created a commotion over his photo being excluded from the meeting banner, demanding an explanation for the omission. The second issue centered around the controversy surrounding the appointment of the DMK City Secretary for Pudukkottai North, which has already sparked ongoing discontent within party ranks.
தி.மு.க சார்பில் வைக்கப்பட்ட பிளக்ஸ், பேனர்களில் அமைச்சர் மெய்யநாதன் படம் எங்கே..? கே.என்.நேரு, ரகுபதியிடம் ஆதரவாளர்கள் கடும் வாக்குவாதம்.. சட்டென கோபப்பட்ட அமைச்சர் நேரு.. தி.மு.க பூத் கமிட்டி முகவர்கள் கூட்டத்தில் சலசலப்பு#Pudukkottai | #DMK | #Minister | #BannerIssue pic.twitter.com/yzpVFaSOd0
— Polimer News (@polimernews) July 8, 2025
The controversy of appointment began after the sudden demise of Senthil, who served as the DMK City Secretary of Pudukkottai North and was also the husband of the Pudukkottai Corporation Mayor, Thilagavathy. Since his death due to a heart attack last December, the position has remained vacant.
Several senior DMK leaders, who had long been associated with the party and hoped to be appointed to the post, had lobbied the leadership for a chance, backed by their respective supporters. However, the DMK high command, reportedly influenced by Rajya Sabha MP Abdullah, named Rajesh a supporter of Abdullah as the new city in-charge three months ago.
Rajesh’s appointment triggered widespread dissatisfaction among party ranks. Many senior members viewed the decision as a snub and began voicing opposition. Over the past three months, protests have taken place at every major DMK event in the region, with Pudukkottai Corporation office-bearers, local secretaries, and party workers consistently demanding Rajesh’s removal.
These frustrations reached a boiling point during a DMK meeting at a private hall near Palpannai, under Pudukkottai Corporation limits. When the ministers arrived, they were intercepted by agitated DMK workers who blocked their path with placards, demanding Rajesh’s ouster. A heated exchange ensued between Minister Nehru and the protesting members. Amid the confrontation, Nehru was seen attempting to lash out at a party worker, sparking chaos.
While the ministers eventually urged the protesters to come inside and discuss the matter, the workers remained firm. They expressed dismay, stating that they had raised the issue for months with no response from the leadership. Dissatisfied, they walked out of the hall and staged a protest outside.
Party Discord Out In The Open
The incident laid bare internal cracks within the DMK. The fact that ministers were confronted and halted by their own party members at an organizational meeting has raised serious questions among the cadre. Many are now wondering how the party intends to win elections when such unresolved disputes fester within.
Amidst this, social media users began mocking Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s much-publicized “Oraniyil Tamil Nadu” (Tamil Nadu in One Team) initiative, aimed to foster unity between leaders and grassroots workers to propagate DMK’s achievements. The Pudukkottai episode, however, has painted a very different picture, pointing out the irony that the party’s very unity the campaign aims to promote.
(With Inputs From ABP Nadu)
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