All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam factions clash

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Tension prevailed in Rajapalayam on Saturday as two factions of the AIADMK clashed in full public view, leaving five persons admitted in the government hospital. The clash was between supporters of Rajapalayam MLA K Gopalsamy and union chairperson A Ponnuthayi, over the distribution of welfare measures in the villages.
Local sources said there was a function to distribute benefits to the public at Rajapalayam and K T Rajendra Balaji, minister for information, presided over the event.After distributing the benefits, the minister left the spot due to other appointments and had asked his party colleagues to distribute them. While Ponnuthayi and her supporters went to send off the minister, Gopalsamy proceeded to Devadanam village nearby where he distributed the benefits. After that, he proceeded to the next village Ilanthiraikondan and was listening to the grievances of the public on the way.
Meanwhile, Ponnuthayi and her supporters reached Devadanam and learnt that the welfare measures were already distributed. Irked by this, they proceeded to Ilanthiraikondan and after finding the MLA, they picked up a quarrel with him. The heated arguments resulted in a fight between supporters of each faction. Alagapurian, panchayat president of Melapattam Karisalkulam and father of the union chairperson, allegedly sustained stab injuries and was admitted to the government hospital at Rajapalayam along with another supporter Sivapiran from Magavur. From the MLA's side, Pottalpatti Rajendran, Sendil and K S Pandian were admitted to the hospital, the sources said.
A local AIADMK functionary who did not want to be named said Gopalsamy played a key role in the election of Ponnuthayi as union chairperson but their terms started getting sour a few months ago.
"For the last four months, tension was mounting between both groups with the union chairperson feeling that the MLA was interfering in her jurisdiction. The friction that has been going on for some months erupted on Saturday with chairman's side feeling that the MLA was sidelining them while distributing welfare measures", he said.
Another AIADMK cadre said Gopalsamy had been termed as close aide of Ravanan, kin of Sasikalaa. After Ravanan was ousted from the party, Gopalsamy lost his grip in local politics and other cadre were waiting for such a situation, he said. Dhalavaipuram police sources said the clash occurred after the function ended in the villages.
A few supporters from both sides got admitted in hospital and they were collecting statements from them. They were yet to file an FIR in this regard, they said.