AIADMK hit by desertions, Jayalalitha unperturbed

After a string of electoraldefeats, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) is being haunted by desertions with some of its MLAs shifting loyalties to rival and ruling DMK even as party supremo Jayalalithaa appears unfazed by the signs of discontent.

Ever since the 2006 assembly polls, when the AIADMK won 60 seats, at least five of its MLAs had either deserted or came out openly against the party, preferring to warm up to DMK and chief minister M Karunanidhi.

The party has lost subsequent by-elections to the assembly and even boycotted the polls to five segments held in August last year, alleging that DMK-led alliance was using money and muscle power, and raising doubts on the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines.

But Jayalalithaa has dismissed the desertions, saying she was not bothered by them and said the deserting MLA's will only end up as 'the losers.'

It all started with late S V Shanmugam, representing Madurai West, praising deputy chief minister MK Stalin (then a minister) at a government function in 2007. However, he died soon and the Congress wrested the seat from the AIADMK in by-polls.
 
Comedian-turned politician SV Sekar was the next to openly praise the DMK Government, prompting Jayalalithaa to expel him. He continues to be an unattached MLA.

Former state minister and AIADMK Tuticorin district secretary Anitha Radhakrishnan resigned as MLA and joined the DMK last year before getting re-elected on the ruling party ticket in the bypoll.

Last week alone, two more AIADMK MLAs -- L Radhakrishnan (Kovilpatti) and K Rajendran (Jeyamkondam) defied Jayalalithaa's diktat against having any contact with DMK men, and called on Karunanidhi, "seeking redressal of constituency grievances".

In an apparent fallout, both of them have been axed by Jayalalithaa from key party posts, giving rise to speculations that they may be soon be shown the exit doors from the party.

While Radhakrishnan, who met Karunanidhi at his son and Union minister MK Alagiri's behest, said that he was not allowed to raise constituency-related issue in the Assembly, Rajendran echoed similar views when he said "I did not want to be a puppet MLA," when asked about his meeting with the DMK patriarch.
    
Sekar, who also runs his own successful drama troupe, had to face the heat after he got pally with DMK leaders including Stalin and was seen participating in government functions in the capacity of local MLA.

Speculations are rife that some more MLAs, who were recently stripped off key party posts are mulling defecting to the DMK camp, with the ruling party aiming to exploit their discontent.
    
But, they have denied they would switch loyalty.