Chennai: A purported audio clip of a discussion between senior AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan and a party functionary from Kanyakumari has stirred controversy in AIADMK. The clip also resulted in Ponnaiyan shifted from his post of organization secretary of AIADMK to the secretary of MGR Makkal Mandram, a wing of the party.
The controversy started after Kolathur Krishnamoorthy, a supporter of OPS, played an audio clip to the reporters where Ponniyan was heard telling Nanjil Kolappan, another supporter of OPS, that Palaniswami only had the support of nine MLAs and only money played a vital role in getting the support.
The clip also allegedly said that EPS and OPS were only focused on their personal growth and not of the party.
It also mentioned the names of the former Ministers including P Thangamani, SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam.
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After playing the clip, Krishnamoorthy said that OPS camp has several other voice clips and they will also be released soon.
However, Ponnaiyan immediately reacted to the clip and said that the audio clip was fabricated and it was not his voice in the clip.
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He said that Panneerselvam camp released the audio for creating confusion in Palaniswami's camp. There's a big conspiracy behind the audio and they are aiming to split the party, he added.
Yet, Palaniswami in a statement as interim general secretary of the party removed former Ministers Ponnaiyan and Natham R Viswanathan as organising secretaries. He also appointed former Ministers KP Munusamy and Natham Viswanathan as deputy general secretaries and former Minister SP Velumani as headquarters secretary.