The AIADMK leadership is set to nominate the two-time MP from Tiruvallur (reserved), P. Venugopal, as the party’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha.
This follows the unanimous election of Karur MP >M. Thambidurai as Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker last week.
Sources in the party indicated that Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary chose Dr. Venugopal to succeed the seasoned Mr. Thambidurai. The list of new office-bearers was expected to be released shortly.
Deputy leader The sources said the party whip and Tiruchi MP, P. Kumar, also serving his second consecutive term, is tipped to become the deputy floor leader in the Lok Sabha.
Incidentally, for the 2014 elections, Ms. Jayalalithaa re-nominated only Mr. Thambidurai, Dr. Venugopal and Mr. Kumar from among the party members of the previous Lok Sabha. All the three have been given ranking positions in a sign of the confidence the party leadership has in them. With the AIADMK expected to play a crucial role in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the actions of the trio would come under scrutiny, say party insiders.
With the Assembly elections just two years away, Ms. Jayalalithaa’s decision to choose someone from the oppressed communities to lead the party in the Lok Sabha is also seen as a step to address the concerns in some political quarters that the party is favouring the Mukkulathor community.
“The elevation of Dr. Venugopal will convey a strong message of assurance to the oppressed classes that the AIADMK leadership stands by them,” said a senior party leader from the Dalit community.
Born on April 28, 1952, Dr. Venugopal graduated from the Stanley Medical College, Chennai. He is one of the 26 medical practitioners in the current Lok Sabha. He is also secretary of the AIADMK Medical Wing.
With Mr. Thambidurai’s election, the buzz in the AIADMK circles is that V. Maitreyan, who is the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha, will take his place as AIADMK Parliamentary Party leader.
The regard Prime Minister Narendra Modi had for Mr. Thambidurai and the way the BJP ensured his unanimous election were indicative of the importance the BJP attached to Ms. Jayalalithaa, the sources said.
