CHENNAI: Just days after saying she did not want to lose even a single volunteer of the AIADMK, the party’s general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Saturday expelled two former ministers, S Muthusamy and M Chinnasamy, and three other functionaries for ‘anti-party’ activities. Former MLAs V K Chinnasamy and C Manickam and N Raja, secretary, Erode town unit of the pasrty, were also expelled for acting in unison with Muthusamy.
Within hours of his expulsion, Muthusamy told reporters at Pallavaram that he was not embarrassed to join the ruling DMK as MGR loyalists were being honoured in that party. However, Muthusamy said he would take a final decision after consulting his followers.
Muthusamy is likely to meet M Karunanidhi on May 30 and formally announce his decision to join the DMK on June 3, Karunanidhi’s birthday.
In a statement, Jayalalithaa said Muthusamy, by planning to join the DMK, had betrayed the AIADMK, which had nurtured him as a political functionary.
She said Muthusamy had ignored her invitation to meet her to sort out issues. She also accused him of maligning the image of the party by giving interviews to the media with information contrary to truth. , she said, and directed party cadre against having any contact with those expelled.
Muthusamy had alleged that members of the erstwhile faction of Janaki, wife of AIADMK founder MGR, including himself, had been sidelined and a family close to Jayalalithaa was controlling the party.