Putting to rest the rumours surrounding the resignation of popular entrepreneur CK Kumaravel from Kamal Haasan's political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), the party has issued an official press release stating that even before the selection process was completed, Kumaravel had updated in his Facebook page that he would be contesting in Cuddalore constituency, thus violating the party principles.
Putting to rest the rumours surrounding the resignation of popular entrepreneur CK Kumaravel from Kamal Haasan's political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), the party has issued an official press release stating that even before the selection process was completed, Kumaravel had updated in his Facebook page that he would be contesting in Cuddalore constituency, thus violating the party principles.
"Makkal Needhi Maiam has a strict zero tolerance policy on applicants violating party principles for which MNM gives utmost importance. This is more so on applicants not communicating pending decisions to any media/social media, ahead of the party leadership’s formal statement on the same, especially when there were more than a few hundred applicants waiting to be interviewed in a democratic manner.
Kumaravel’s update stating he is the contestant for the Parliamentary Elections 2019 came at a time when he had not even sat down for his interview with the panel.
When the party leadership questioned him on the same, his answers were not satisfactory. Makkal Needhi Maiam’s leadership accepts his resignation on the grounds that his act was not in keeping with the tenets of a democratic selection process of its candidates," detailed the release.
Internal politics the 'trigger'
While speaking to CK Kumaravel about this, he accepts that the post regarding his candidature was done prematurely by him and that he had agreed and apologised to Kamal Haasan about the same. But the decision to quit the party altogether was not just because of this announcement. “This was just the trigger” he hints.
The businessman had joined Kamal’s core team when the actor had launched his party in February 2018.
Speaking to SimpliCity, the entrepreneur said that while he still believes that Kamal Haasan has a good vision for Tamil Nadu, the team around the politician is unbecoming of a new party.
“The reason for quitting is internal politics, and double standards” he said. He also pointed out that the appointment of Dr. Mahendran as the Vice President of the party triggered issues.
"In November 2018, Mahendran, a Doctor and Agriculturalist from Pollachi was appointed as Maiam’s Vice President. With him coming into the picture, the internal party politics only amplified. When someone is getting announced as the Vice President 30 minutes before a programme, it becomes very difficult to comprehend how there is democracy in the party,” questions Kumaravel.
'Double Standards'
Kumaravel also alleges, “The same posting of announcements when done by the party leadership unilaterally shows that they have different rules for different people”.
However, in a statement to the press on November 28, the party had stated that a resolution to institute Dr. Mahendran as VP had been passed by the party’s Governing Body and Executive Committee on October 8, 2018.
Kumaravel still maintains that, “Kamal has a good vision. He puts in a lot of effort but the team around him is detrimental to him and his vision.”
When questioned, if Kamal tried to persuade him to reconsider, he said “No!"
Elaborating on other issues that triggered his decision, Kumaravel says, “A newbie party like ours should be agile. But we are the last to announce candidates for 2019 Lok Sabha. We should have made the announcement, a month ago and should have hit the constituencies by now. This was the advantage that former late CM J.Jayalalithaa had over M. Karunanidhi.
She would always announce her candidates, well in advance. The bigger parties have announced their lists. This shows that we are lacking in our preparation."
"My announcement of my candidature came out in this sort of aggressive 'enthusiasm'. I said to myself, that someone needs to bell the cat and I looked back at the time I spent in Maiam over the last year and said to myself, that I’ll sacrifice myself”
When asked if he had voiced his concerns to the party leadership, the businessman says that he had done so, from time to time. He says, “I expressed my concerns, my viewpoints and my suggestions from time to time in our official WhatsApp group. But it was not acknowledged. Then I convinced to myself that our party is no exception to others.”
Kumaravel also recounts that when he joined the party with much enthusiasm and energy and smitten with Kamal Haasan’s vision for Tamil Nadu. “A lot of people told me that I was being foolish. But I told myself that if I don’t go and support Kamal Haasan now, then I will have no moral to speak later,” he said.
Clarifying that he will not be joining another party, the entrepreneur adds that his stint with MNM had left him richer in life experience.
However, Makkal Needhi Maiam has clarified its stand on C.K. Kumaravel’s exit which strictly is in view of its uncompromising zero tolerance policy on applicants violating party principles.
MNM is expected to announce the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections by tomorrow.