The absence of 90% of the DMK councillors from the monthly meeting held at the Corporation Council on Friday only exposed the feud within the ruling party, said AIADMK leader in the council Solai M. Raja.

Mr. Raja told presspersons that when Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth convened the meeting and announced well in advance, the absence of a majority of her own party members in the council only showed the lack of respect for her within the party.

The council meeting had tabled resolutions which required the members acceptance to be passed. As a majority of the 40-plus resolutions involved laying roads, the officials said that it could not be delayed.

Considering the pathetic situation of the city roads, the AIADMK decided not to be a hurdle and allowed it to be passed, he said and added that the people should understand the double standard of the DMK.

Knowing pretty well that to pass the resolutions, the meeting would require the mandatory quorum, the DMK members’ absence cannot be accepted, he said. Despite this, the members had abstained, which reflected their scant regard to the public, he charged and said that instead of indulging in politics, the AIADMK decided to stand with the civic body so that the roads could be laid without any delay, Mr. Raja said.

Party meeting

A senior DMK councillor told The Hindu that they had gone to attend party workers’ meeting convened by Minister P. Moorthy at a private marriage hall in Uthangudi.

The DMK is organising its general council meeting in Madurai on June 1 and in this connection, they planned to accord a rousing reception to their leaders on May 31. Thus, they had invited the party functionaries and so they could not reach out to the council meeting, he said.

When Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin would be here, Madurai would benefit in multiple ways. The State government had earmarked funds for laying roads and other infrastructure, he said.

The absence of DMK councillors should not be taken advantage of by the AIADMK members who had done nothing during their term in the past, he charged and said that all the roads in Madurai city would be spruced up soon.

He denied that there was any groupism in the DMK and that they gave due respect to the Mayor and dismissed the allegations levelled by the AIADMK.