Cracks in the dissidents’ camp of the AIADMK deepened on Friday when former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam stayed away from the official review meeting for his Villupuram district and former Food Minister R. Kamaraj made it to the event for Tiruvarur.

Mr. Shanmugam’s decision was in line with the stand taken by many of his colleagues such as Natham R. Viswanathan, P. Thangamani, and S.P. Velumani. About 10 days ago, a few other members of the camp, including Leema Rose Martin and G. Hari, took part in the review sessions for their respective districts of Tiruchi and Tiruvallur.

Many of the dissidents have not yet reconciled themselves to the new positions offered by party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who removed many of the rebels from the post of district secretary. They even shot off a letter to Mr. Palaniswami, expressing their unwillingness to take up the new assignments. Early this week, many persons, owing allegiance to Mr. Shanmugam, had announced their resignation from the AIADMK as a mark of protest against disciplinary action taken by the party on certain district-level functionaries in Villupuram district.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK general secretary reviewed the performance of the party in Salem and Tiruvallur (south), apart from Villupuram and Tiruvarur. After taking part in the review session, the newly appointed secretary of the Villupuram district, R. Pasupathy, told reporters that the party had, of late, been “doing well.” He held Mr. Shanmugam responsible for the defeat in three Assembly constituencies in the district.

In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to take steps for the release of seven boats, belonging to the Kasimedu fishing community, that were recently impounded by officials of the Andhra Pradesh government.

He also called for efforts to be made to shield the Kasimedu fishermen from “further harassment” of the neighbouring State government.