Chennai: Fissures came to the fore at the grassroot level in the National Democratic Alliance with Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) cadres voicing concern over they being ignored by AIADMK during campaign activities in Uthangarai and Bargur assembly constituencies in Krishnagiri district.AIADMK’s E C Govindan and T M Tamilselvam are contesting in Bargur and Uthangarai assembly constituencies. AMMK’s Krishnagiri east district secretary S Ganesh Kumar said workers — from district-level functionaries to panchayat-level office-bearers — were working in various capacities without expecting any reward from AIADMK for their party candidates. “However, despite repeated requests, the candidate introduction meeting was still not held. Even after appealing to Krishnagiri district secretary K Ashok Kumar, no action was taken,” he said. He further accused AIADMK deputy general secretary KP Munusamy of disrespecting AMMK functionaries. Ganesh Kumar also said that two days ago, AIADMK provided Rs 10,000 per booth for alliance party executives to mobilise votes, but alleged AMMK members were not invited to participate in campaign activities. “The boycott is painful and distressing. There is no use in complaining to anyone,” he said. AMMK functionaries in Vellore, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts echoed similar concerns. “There is no proper communication for election in-charges in the constituency. Sometimes we find ourselves out of place even when invited to join the campaign,” said a functionary from Ranipet district. They also pointed out that several functionaries joined the DMK along with former MLA N Parthiban, thinning the AMMK’s strength in the district. However, the situation is different in the Thevar belt, where AMMK functionaries are working in coherence with AIADMK and BJP cadres. “Our leader T T V Dhinakaran has campaigned in some constituencies in Theni and Madurai districts in the last couple of days,” said K David Annadurai, an AMMK functionary in Madurai.
