Durai Vaiko patches up with Mallai Sathya and withdraws resignation

MDMK MP Durai Vaiko withdraws resignation as principal secretary after Mallai Sathya apologizes, promising to work together for party.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MP Durai Vaiko, who quit from the post of the principal secretary, withdrew his resignation after Mallai Sathya, deputy general secretary of the party, with whom he had difference of opinion, agreed to mend his ways.

“Since he expressed his regret and agreed to work together, I changed my decision and withdrew my resignation,” Mr Durai Vaiko said. 

On Saturday, Mr Durai Vaiko announced his decision to step down as the principal secretary of the party because he could not continue in the post when a “person (Mallai Sathya) derives pleasure in slandering the party and party leadership”.

The issue dominated the party’s administrative council meeting on Sunday and Mr Sathya said he never questioned or objected to the views or speeches of Mr Durai Vaiko and only just responded to a party cadre’s message on social media. 

“If my comments have offended him, I regret the same,” Mr Sathya, who attended the council meeting, told The Hindu. He shook hands with Mr Durai Vaiko and promised to follow his leadership in the interest of the party.

“It was an emotional moment for me. He [Durai Vaiko] is the son of my leader who gave me an identity in politics. If you come to my house, you can see photographs of me standing with leaders like Atal Bihari Vajapayee, Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The status was given to me by my leader [Vaiko],” Mr Sathya said.

Mr Sathya said it pained him that his comments had offended his leader and he really regretted his action. “I am following the leadership of my leader and have rejected offers from other parties. He is the leader who gave me an identity,” he said.