The moves and counter-moves of PMK founder S. Ramadoss and party president Anbumani Ramadoss continued on Tuesday.

While Dr. Ramadoss removed party loyalist and head of Samooga Needhi Peravai, K. Balu, and appointed (by removing correspondingly) many others as district secretaries, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss announced that he would be convening general council meetings across various districts.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Balu, said he was appointed as the president of Samooga Needhi Peravai (Advocates Forum for Social Justice) by Dr. Ramadoss in 2002.

“The Peravai was founded by Dr. Ramadoss and I was appointed as its president and have held the post for 23 years. I have fought so many cases on behalf of the party to ensure and safeguard social justice including the closure of liquor stores on national highways and fought more than 10,000 cases slapped against PMK cadres including Goondas act slapped on 124 persons. They were quashed and released. I have defended the party in media…with dignity,” he said.

Expressing surprise at the decision, Mr. Balu said,“Even last week, Dr. Ayya spoke about cases fought by me in 2013 and I have been loyal to him till date. I have learnt that positions are not permanent in politics. I would like to thank him. I will continue be in PMK and work for the development of the party and protect social justice. I will continue to work work for the party under the leadership of its president, Dr. Anbumani.”

Unfazed at the announcement of removal of office bearers, Dr. Anbumani, however, has announced that he would chair the district general council meetings to look into the status of the membership drive announced recently, setting up of booth committees and look into the party’s developmental activities.

He would be meeting PMK district party cadres in Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Ranipettai, Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Salem and Dharmapuri districts between June 15 and June 19. The party cadres however seem to be hoping for a quick resolution of the issues between Dr. Ramadoss and Dr. Anbumani.