TMVP splits -- Karuna forms new party

TMVP splits -- Karuna forms new party

By Ramesh Warallegama

The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) yesterday split as Karuna Amman formed a new political party called the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Kooddani (TMVK).
When contacted, the Secretary of the TMVP Thaileshwara Raja said “we are aware that Karuna Amman had formed a new political party, but the TMVP will remain unchanged and Pilleyan will take over the leadership in the party”. The new party’s official address has been given in a location in the Thenagam area in Batticaloa.
Karuna had informed his followers in Batticaloa about his new move and the first letter has been sent to the Eastern Provincial Council member Pradeep Master yesterday.
The letter has been signed by the new party’s media spokesman Kanchchana Moorthi Kamalanadan. The letter says that the president of the TMVK is Karuna Amman, the secretary Vinaya Bharathi, and Treasurer Sinna Thammbi. Meanwhile, the word “Pulikal” (Tiger) in the TMVP title has been replaced with Kooddani (Alliance) in the new party’s name.
Many internal conflicts flared after Karuna tried to capture power in the party as his leadership post did not give him enough powers to function. Meanwhile, the Pilleyan faction did not accept Karuna as its sole leader and identified its president as Kumara swami Nandagopan alias Ragu. The TMVP has been registered under his name when Karuna was in prison, and he was referred to in the party constitution as being only a ‘leader’ who did not have any authority in the party. “After the death of Ragu, Karuna had claimed the post of party president but the Pilleyan faction rejected his request; this could have led to Karuna forming a new party,” a Pilleyan faction spokesman said.