The AIADMK has strongly denied police reports claiming that one of its party members was arrested for possessing illicit arrack in Salem district. The party accuses the police of attempting to divert attention from the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
Salem, June 27, 2024: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has vehemently denied recent media reports suggesting that one of its party members was arrested for possessing illicit arrack in Salem district. The party has accused the police of attempting to divert attention from the recent Kallakurichi hooch tragedy by falsely linking the arrested individual to the AIADMK.
The controversy stems from an incident on Saturday, June 24, when the Attur rural police arrested 40-year-old S. Suresh for possessing 40 litres of illicit arrack. Suresh was subsequently remanded to prison. Following the arrest, several media outlets reported that Suresh was an active member of the AIADMK, a claim that the party now strongly contests.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 27, V.P. Sekar, the AIADMK secretary for Attur East Union, provided clarification on Suresh's political affiliations:
1. Past Affiliations: Sekar confirmed that Suresh had indeed been associated with the AIADMK in the past. In 2018, Suresh had shifted his allegiance from the DMK to the AIADMK.
2. Expulsion: However, Sekar emphasized that Suresh had been expelled from the AIADMK due to his "unsavoury activities." The exact nature of these activities was not specified in the statement.
3. Family's Political Background: Sekar revealed that Suresh's family has strong ties to the DMK. His father, Sellamuthu (now deceased), and mother, Saroja, were both DMK members. Notably, Sellamuthu had several cases against him for selling illicit arrack.
4. Brother's Political Aspirations: Suresh's brother, Muthulingam, is also reportedly a DMK member and had sought an MLA seat for the Gangavalli Assembly constituency.
5. Recent Political Activities: Sekar pointed out that in 2019, Suresh had contested against the AIADMK's official candidate for the Kallanatham panchayat president post, further distancing himself from the party.
Speaking to The Hindu, Sekar elaborated on Suresh's current status with the AIADMK: "After contesting against our official candidate, he did not participate in any party activities, and we did not invite him to any of our party programmes. He also did not renew his party membership. There is no connection between him and the party."
The AIADMK's strong rebuttal comes in the wake of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which has put significant pressure on law enforcement and the current government. Sekar suggested that the police might be using this arrest and the subsequent media reports to deflect attention from their handling of the Kallakurichi incident.
This controversy highlights the complex political landscape in Tamil Nadu, where party affiliations can be fluid and family members often belong to opposing political parties. It also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling the illicit liquor trade, a persistent issue in many parts of the state.
As the situation unfolds, both the AIADMK and the police are likely to face increased scrutiny. The AIADMK will be keen to distance itself from any association with illicit activities, while the police will need to address accusations of using this arrest as a diversionary tactic.
The incident also raises questions about the verification processes political parties use when admitting members and the mechanisms in place for monitoring their activities post-admission.
As Tamil Nadu continues to grapple with the fallout from the Kallakurichi tragedy, this incident serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between politics, law enforcement, and social issues in the state.