CHENNAI, June 14: In a significant development, the Rajya Sabha has recognised the split in the AIADMK parliamentary party and designated the rival AIADMK groups led by J Jayalalitha and S Thirunavukkarasu as `AIADMK-I' and `AIADMK-II'. In a communication (dated, June 9), to the respective groups, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President, K R Narayanan, has designated the group comprising G Swaminathan, R K Kumar, S Muthu Mani, O S Manian, R Margabandu, N Thalavai Sundaram and S Niraikulathan, owing allegiance to Jayalalitha, as `AIADMK-I' and the group consisting of V Rajan Chellappa, T M Venkatachalam, S Austin, N Thangaraj Pandian, Dr D Mastan, N Rajendran and P Sounderarajan, supporting Thirunavukkarasu group, as `AIADMK-II'. This will be strictly for the limited purpose of functioning in the House, the statement added. THIRUNAVUKKARASU:S Thirunavukkarasu stated that the redesignation of the AIADMK MPs as `AIADMK-I' and `AIADMK-II' was their group's ``first victory''. He added, ``in the same manner, we will win the AIADMK symbol and protect the glory of MGR (late M G Ramachandran, the founder of AIADMK)''.
