Media persons not allowed in AIADMK meeting at Erode

 Following fisticuffs in the AIADMK field level review meetings held in Nellai, Madurai and Kumbakonam for the past few days and it was exposed by media, the Erode Maanagar AIADMK unit functionaries didn't allow mediapersons in the field level meeting of the unit held at the Lakshmi Duraisamy marriage hall at Erode on Monday.
Former minister and AIADMK headquarter secretary SP Velumani presided over the meeting. The functionaries said ''the meeting was held to hear the views of partymen. It is an indoor meeting. So presspersons can take photos by spending 5 minutes and quit the venue''. While the meeting was held at around 2 pm and SP Velumani spoke at around 2.15 pm, many cadres were went to the dining hall due to hungry and stood in the long queue to get food. But, the functionaries refused to provide food and asserted that it would be provided after Velumani completed his speech. So, many stood for over one hour to get food, causing great irritation among them. 
Many on condition of anonymity said that only selected persons were asked to speak and SP Velumani spoke as usual praising EPS instead of hearing the views of cadres to get victory for the party in the 2026 poll. 
They recalled that the late CM Jayalalithaa heard the cadres views district wise at Kolapakkam when the party faced defeat and took action on the party functionaries who didn't perform well or who faced complaints from the cadres. She replaced many by appointing new faces in the posts. But now in the field level review meetings, no major message was received from Velumani. The meeting was like a routine one which didn't raise the hope of  cadres that the party would capture power in 2026 poll. 
They said that the present situation of the party leaders indicated that the party was longing for the exit of some parties from the DMK front and join hands with ADMK to get victory. Similarly, it seemed they depend on Vijay much that he would align with ADMK. Unfortunately, Vijay party rejected 53 year old party which ruled the party many times. It is a great insult to the party and its leaders late MGR and Jayalalithaa. During the latest leaders tenure, many parties longed for alliance with ADMK. Now the leaders should actively try to expose the omissions and commissions of DMK and BJP rule including Adani issue. Such attack on BJP and DMK would alone help raise the hope on the party among people. Celebrating Janaki Ramachandran's centenary celebration belatedly could not help the party much to regain its strength as the CM MK Stalin already attended similar function. The party leaders didn't recall the services of Janaki Ramachandran so far by arranging her birthday or memorial day functions. Above all, the present generation didn't know her and her services to the party much. So people viewed that the function was arranged to hide the internal bickerings in the party, they noted.