M. Kannappan Resigned From MDMK
M. Kannappan of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday resigned from the party and membership of the Assembly. He represented the Thondamuthur Assembly segment. Mr. Kannappan disclosed this at a press conference at his farmhouse in Aalampalayam near Pollachi.
Terming the decision fallout of differences with MDMK general secretary Vaiko, he said ever since the party came into being he had been loyal to the leadership. Differences cropped up after he paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M. Karunanidhi at a hospital in Chennai on February 22. “The DMK leaders visited me when I was hospitalised and it was only a courtesy call on humanitarian grounds.” Efforts to explain the reasons for calling on the DMK leader were not taken by the leadership in the right spirit.
“My efforts to talk to Mr. Vaiko since February 23 were in vain and he refused to come on line. I had come to understand that Mr. Vaiko had told party leaders that I was not co-operating with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam during the proceedings in the Assembly. “Even my opinion that MDMK should have contested the Thirumangalam by-election was misconstrued as an effort to cause discomfort in the alliance. I came to know of the party forming a wing for election work as well as its high-level committee meeting only through newspapers. Continued neglect forced me to take a decision,” he said.
Asked about his future plans, Mr. Kannappan said he would consult his supporters and take a decision. Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, District Secretary and Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy along with front-ranking leaders of DMK visited Mr. Kannappan at his farm house at Alampalayam late on Wednesday night.
