Chennai: The exodus from AIADMK continued on Friday with former school education minister Vaigaichelvan resigning from the party. Unfazed, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami intensified his district-wise review meetings “to rebuild the organisation after its assembly election setback”.In a two-page resignation letter, Vaigaichelvan blamed Palaniswami’s leadership and his alleged attempt to form a govt with DMK’s support. Vaigaichelvan’s resignation comes a day after former ministers M R Vijayabhaskar and C Vijayabaskar joined TVK along with scores of their supporters.Stating that a leader must ensure the victory of the party and its ideology at the cost of personal ambitions, Vaigaichelvan said EPS’s move to seek DMK’s support compromised AIADMK’s principles and identity. He said wrong decisions taken at a crucial juncture had pushed the party away from the path to victory.Though sidelined, he campaigned for the party during the elections, he said. “ I realised that being ignored is worse than death … leaving the party I had been associated with since my student days was an emotionally difficult decision,” he said.Amid the desertions, Palaniswami chaired a review meeting with AIADMK Chengalpet and Vellore district functionaries at the party headquarters, and asked them to prepare for the bypolls. “He emphasised the importance of winning Maduranthagam assembly constituency, which was won by AIADMK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel, who later resigned and joined TVK. He wanted us to work hard to teach a lesson to the traitors,” said a functionary who attended the meeting.EPS earlier held similar meetings with functionaries from Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts.
