Former Minister and organisation secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), S. Muthusamy, was expelled from primary membership of the party on Saturday “for functioning against the principles and objectives of the party.”
Another former Minister, Karur M. Chinnasamy, and two former MLAs, V.K. Chinnasamy and C. Manickam, were also expelled for associating with Mr. Muthusamy and boycotting party functions and programmes. Later, in the day she expelled Market N. Raja, the secretary of the Erode Town unit of the party for anti-party activities.
In a statement here, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said Mr. Muthusamy had failed to meet her and skipped the executive committee meeting though she had invited him many times to meet her and discuss his grievances. “After the executive committee meeting, he sent a letter. After going through the letter, I asked him to meet me. But, he did not turn up.” She also accused Mr. Muthusamy of conducting a disinformation campaign in the media, bringing disrepute to the party. He had betrayed the party and planned to join the rival DMK.
As for the three others, Ms. Jayalalithaa said they were also instigating the cadre against the party leadership.
Mr. Muthusamy was a Minister both in M.G. Ramachandran's and Ms. Jayalalithaa's Cabinets. He was Health Minister when Ms. Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister between 1991 and 1996. Earlier, he held the Transport portfolio in MGR's cabinet. Before his expulsion, he was in-charge of party affairs in Erode and Namakkal districts.
Mr. Karur M. Chinnasamy held the Industries portfolio in Ms. Jayalalithaa's Cabinet. He represented Karur Lok Sabha constituency once, in 1999. Mr. V.K. Chinnasamy was also a Member of Parliament.
