Hours after switching from AIADMK to DMK, Manoj Pandian resigns as MLA

Hours after he joined the DMK, Manoj Pandian resigned as an MLA. He was representing the Alangulam Assembly constituency. Mr. Pandian, son of late AIADMK leader and former Speaker P.H. Pandian, has been a supporter of former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who was expelled from the AIADMK. He charged the AIADMK was functioning as the wing of the BJP.

Speaker M. Appavu told reporters the resignation tendered by Mr. Pandian in person in the Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday evening, was “in order” and it has been accepted. 

Mr. Pandian told journalists whenever he attempted to speak in the Assembly, AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami and others in the AIADMK, prevented opportunities for him. “During the past four years, on many occasions, I raised many demands with the permission of the Speaker.”

Recalling the statement of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that he would not differentiate between those who voted for his party and others and that his government’s service to both of them would be the same, Mr. Pandian said: “All the demands I made during the past four years, have almost been fulfilled.”

To a query, Mr. Pandian said he contacted Mr. Panneerselvam over the phone and informed him about his decision to join the DMK. To persistent questions as to why he chose to party ways, Mr. Pandian said: “As far as I am concerned, I have respect for Annan O. Panneerselvam. Even now, I have respect. For anyone to serve the people, we need a political party.”

The DMK was a political party that was serving the people and safeguarding the principles of the Dravidian movement, Mr. Pandian said and added his decision was well thought-out. Asked if he predicted that Mr. Panneerselvam’s efforts (to stake claim to represent the AIADMK) would not succeed, Mr. Pandian said: “The AIADMK is not what it was meant to be by founder Puratchi Thalaivar or that of Amma.”

Mr. Pandian further charged: “The AIADMK today is Edappadi Anna DMK. It will not come together (the different factions) because the AIADMK is functioning as a wing of the BJP here.” Asked about Mr. Panneerselvam’s response to his decision, Mr. Pandian said that the former had accepted it. To another query, he said: “There is no connection between my quitting and the government’s coming to the end of its term.”

Mr Pandian said, “I have only spoken as the representative of the people of Alangulam. I am not a ruling party MLA.” He quit as an MLA, only to be on the right side of the law. “I have decided to join the DMK and so I did what was required of me in the light of the law.” Asked if the DMK leadership has guaranteed a seat for him in Alangulam in the upcoming elections, he said the party leadership would decide on it.