TTV brings back officials sacked by Jayalalithaa into IT wing

CHENNAI: As if taking a cue from the approach of national and regional parties in focusing their attention on strengthening their social media presence,

AIADMK's rebel camp leader

, TTV Dhinakaran too has jumped in the fray. He seems to be betting big on what IT-related platform can deliver for his propaganda and image building exercise.

This is evident from the appointment of two top level functionaries now to the

IT wing of AIADMK Amma

, which he heads. Raj Mohan, an IT professional from

Virudhunagar in south Tamil Nadu

, has been appointed to the top post - as IT wing secretary. Another IT professional R Balu has been appointed as IT wing president, which is the next level in the hierarchy.

It is to be noted that Raj Mohan was earlier the state-level joint secretary and Balu, the president of the AIADMK IT wing when former chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa established the wing for the party in 2014. Interestingly, both Raj Mohan and Balu were dismissed from their posts and expelled from the primary membership for indulging in alleged anti-party activities by Jayalalithaa herself, just a day before she was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai on September 22, 2016.

TTV seems to have understood the fact that voters in the age group of 18 and 30 years constitute over 40% of the state's electorate. Given the scenario, the capacity of the IT and social media platforms in spreading the party's message cannot be overlooked. "He has chosen well trained talents for the task and is also talking to several past and present

IT wing professionals

of the party to bring them into his fold," a TTV camp insider said. The move by TTV comes at a time when the

AIADMK's own IT wing

is disoriented and not overtly active. And, the DMK is busy strengthening its own IT wing through appointment of office bearers at the district levels.