Former AIADMK Speaker P. Dhanapal on Tuesday said the party had made “many mistakes” and was now facing the consequences, alleging that he had been repeatedly sidelined within the organisation.
He spoke to reporters in Chennai after attending an event linked to the swearing-in of his son, Rasipuram MLA Lokesh Tamilselvan, who has been inducted as a minister in the Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister.
Dhanapal said he had left the AIADMK long ago and is currently resting at home due to ill health. He said he came to the function to share the happiness of seeing his son become a minister.
Recalling his own political journey, he said he had worked to build the party by travelling and addressing meetings, but was not given due importance. He claimed that the party leadership ignored “everything”, and that people have now ignored the party in return.
He said the AIADMK’s present condition was painful to watch, while he felt happy to see a party growing under the Chief Minister’s leadership. Comparing the moment to when Jayalalithaa made him Speaker, he said he felt even greater joy at his son’s elevation, and reiterated that those who “did wrong” in the AIADMK are now experiencing it.
