Nagercoil witnessed fresh internal friction within the DMK after the party leadership allotted Minister Mano Thangaraj’s constituency to the CPI(M), prompting protests by his supporters.
According to party sources, hundreds gathered at the DMK’s Kanyakumari West district office and passed a resolution demanding that Thangaraj be given the Padmanabhapuram seat. The group also held an overnight sit-in inside the office.
The developments come amid long-running criticism against Thangaraj, including complaints that he does not respond to calls from party functionaries, workers and local residents. He has also faced opposition over his participation in temple-related events under the Devaswom Board, and his name had earlier surfaced in connection with tensions at the Mandikadu temple, which were later addressed after the HR&CE Minister camped in Nagercoil.
Thangaraj had earlier lost his ministerial post amid talk in the district about alleged links to mineral smuggling, before being reappointed after a gap of about six months. With the latest protest angering the party leadership, some leaders are pressing for his removal as district secretary and for a new office-bearer to lead the party into the election, putting his organisational post under question.
