Chennai: Former AIADMK minister K C Veeramani and Arcot MLA S M Sukumar skipped the party’s review meeting chaired by general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday. The event was part of series of district wise functionaries’ meetings convened to analyse the party’s poor electoral show.Veeramani’s associates said that the former minister left for USA on July 2 to participate in Tamil Sangam programme and has not yet returned. “Hence, he was unable to attend the meeting,’’ said a former district secretary close to Veeramani.Sukumar, meanwhile, told reporters that he was participating in a review meeting conducted by Ranipet district collector. “There are several issues in my constituency. I had to raise these issues in the meeting with collector. I had conveyed my inability to attend the party meeting to our high command,’’ he said. Sukumar’s absence had triggered speculations about a possible resignation as it comes in the backdrop of six MLAs resigning their posts to join TVK. However, Sukumar said he would not quit AIADMK. “I would rather go the graveyard than quit AIADMK,’’ he said.Veeramani and Sukumar were among the 25 MLAs who revolted against Palaniswami following the assembly poll debacle. Palaniswami removed them from their party positions. Sukumar was replaced by Sumaithangi Elumalai as the Ranipet West district secretary, while Pasupathy replaced Veeramani as district secretary of Tirupattur.As part of a subsequent reconciliation effort, Palaniswami appointed Veeramani as organizing secretary and named Sukumar the party’s propaganda deputy secretary. However, the two have continue to adopt a defiant approach, said AIADMK men.Veeramani was also among the senior leaders who sent a formal letter to Palaniswami expressing their unwillingness to accept the new posting, stating they would prefer to continue solely as primary members of the party.Unfazed by the dissent, Palaniswami continued with his scheduled agenda. He urged party functionaries from Ranipet and Tiruppattur districts to shift their focus to the forthcoming local body polls.“People were temporarily swayed by cinematic popularity and glamour during the assembly polls, but that sentiment will soon change,” a party functionary quoted Palaniswami as saying during the meeting. “We must work hard and deliver an impressive performance in the local body elections, which will pave the way for the party’s return to power.”Some of the functionaries from muslim-majority constituencies such as Arcot, Ambur and Vaniyambadi expressed their concern over the alliance with BJP. Responding to them, the AIADMK leader said that he would keep that in mind and take decision accordingly in the future.
