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The Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) is charting a course towards organizational renewal as the newly appointed acting secretary A Palaniappan has committed to make major reforms aimed at strengthening and unifying the trade body.
Palaniappan, elevated from his former position as joint secretary, was assigned the responsibility of general secretary until the next general body meeting elects a permanent officeholder. This crucial interim appointment was ratified at the recent Executive Committee (EC) meeting held in Trichy, following the dramatic expulsion of former general secretary K K Selvan due to alleged anti-organizational activities.
The leadership transition comes at a critical time, with Palaniappan describing the association's current condition as ‘pathetic’. The alleged actions of the former secretary resulted in severe internal fragmentation, culminating in the exclusion of approximately 2,000 members. This large group includes highly influential senior leaders such as former president Mannargudi Ramachandran, Chola Mahendran, Chennai Natarajan and Madurai Saravanan, whose absence has demonstrably weakened the trade body and eroded member trust. Regaining the confidence of these disillusioned members is Palaniappan’s primary objective.
In an exclusive interview with Pharmabiz, the acting secretary outlined his two-pronged strategy, first, immediate reconciliation with estranged members, and second, fostering greater cohesion and cooperation among all factions. He stated that the only interest shared by him and president S A Ramesh is the welfare of the association, dispelling any notion of vested personal interest. This commitment is central to his plan to rebuild trust and align all stakeholders behind the TNCDA's ultimate mission, the welfare of its members.
To execute this outreach, Palaniappan is embarking on an extensive tour across the state's districts, aiming for direct, personal interaction with the membership. His position is already significantly strong, with 27 of the 36 district committees offering full support to the current leadership. While minor pockets of support for the ousted Selvan remain in areas like Salem, Erode, and Coimbatore, Palaniappan highlighted that even from these districts, several EC members attended the decisive Trichy meeting, suggesting the minority opposition is rapidly dissolving.
The culmination of these unifying efforts is the general body meeting scheduled for November 23rd in Villupuram, called by president S A Ramesh. This gathering is intended to formalize the renewed unity and elect a new permanent general secretary. The support for the current administration is overwhelming, out of the 510 official members, special invitees, and delegates eligible to participate, a staggering 465 have pledged their support to Ramesh. Before this pivotal meeting, Palaniappan and EC member Balaji will intensify their district visits to ensure all voices are heard and all senior leaders, including those previously expelled, are personally invited back to the common platform.
Beyond the political repair, the acting secretary is implementing substantive programmes for member benefit. He is planning to organize essential awareness sessions in every district to promote business growth and proficiency among chemists and druggists. Furthermore, instructions have already been disseminated urging members to set up modern infrastructure facilities for their retail pharmacies, ensuring strict compliance with the mandates of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act. This practical focus reinforces the administration’s dedication to protecting the members’ business interests and regulatory standing.
Palaniappan firmly asserted that there is ‘no role for factional feud’ within the association, stressing that unity of the members is the single most important factor for the TNCDA’s success. By tirelessly working to bring all factions back into the fold, he and president Ramesh seek to strengthen the trade body on a foundation of collective identity and shared purpose.
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