Discontent within the MDMK had surfaced ahead of the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with objections raised over the functioning of party principal secretary Durai Vaiko.
A group of 12 former functionaries—including ex-state office-bearer Poda Azhagu Sundaram, former district secretaries Shanmugasundaram, Pulavar Sevanthiyappan and T.R.R. Senguttuvan, and former presidium chair S. Duraisamy—quit the MDMK and have since remained dissatisfied.
Former deputy general secretary Mallai Sathya also left the MDMK and is currently running a separate outfit named Dravida Vetri Kazhagam.
Ahead of the Assembly election, the 12 dissidents had submitted a letter seeking to join the DMK. However, they were kept on a waiting list, with the reasoning that their induction could upset MDMK general secretary Vaiko.
With Durai Vaiko announcing that the MDMK general council meeting on June 27 will move a resolution to contest under a separate symbol, some DMK functionaries said Stalin’s side has now signalled readiness to admit the dissidents if the MDMK decides to leave the DMK-led alliance.
