All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLA from Sendamangalam, C Chandrasekaran, was expelled from the party for "anti-party activities. AIADMK leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam issued a statement announcing his expulsion a few hours after Chandrasekaran filed nomination to contest as an Independent candidate in the constituency.
AIADMK MLA C Chandrasekaran, who was elected from Senthamangalam in Namkkal district in the 2016 Assembly polls, was denied ticket for the 6 April Assembly polls.
The disgruntled MLA after holding discussions with his supporters decided to enter the fray and filed his nomination papers Thursday. However, a couple of hours later, he was expelled from the party.
In a joint statement, Deputy Chief O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who are also the AIADMK coordinator and joint coordinator respectively said he was expelled from the AIADMK for acting in a manner that brought disrepute to the party and for violating the party discipline.
They said, “not only he has filed his papers against the official candidate, but also told the media that he will defeat the candidate nominated by the AIADMK”.
“Hence he is expelled from the primary membership of the party and relieved of all party posts,” they said and urged the AIADMK cadres not to have any links with him.
This action by EPS and OPS is being viewed as a strong signal to disgruntled members ahead of the election.
It remains to be seen what action the party will take against former Minister Thoppu N Venkataachalam, who has also entered the fray as an independent from Perunthurai after he was denied ticket by the AIADMK this time.
In the meantime, AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran’s grandson V Ramachandran has been appointed as deputy secretary of the MGR Youth Wing. Ramachandran had earlier sought a party ticket to contest Assembly polls in vain.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy as retort to Stalin’s claim that the ruling party was headed for a split attacked DMK and its chief MK Stalin saying the party had fielded 20 candidates who are family members of its leaders. Slamming the arch rival for ‘dynasty’ politics and urging people to reject it, he said, “Our party will not split. You cannot touch even a single worker. AIADMK is a lively, robust party. You are attempting to create confusion in the AIADMK. That will never happen. Try to save your party first.” Terming DMK as a corporate company with Stalin as chairman and family members constituting the board of directors, he said people will reject the party.
