AIADMK merger: TTV Dhinakaran sacks chief government whip who sought disqualification of 19 rebel MLAs

Sidelined AIADMK Deputy General Secretary T T V Dhinakaran today removed chief government whip S Rajendran from a key party post, two days after the latter sought disqualification of the 19 MLAs owing allegiance to him.

Rajendran was being “relieved” as the district secretary of Ariyalur, Dhinakaran said in a statement, while continuing to effect changes in the party ranks.

He appointed P Muthiayan in Rajendran’s place.

On Thursday, Rajendran had petitioned Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal for the disqualification of the 19 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs who had revolted against Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

The Dhinakaran-loyalist MLAs had met Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao seeking removal of Palaniswami as the chief minister.

Following Rajendran’s plea, the Speaker had issued notices to all the 19 MLAs, seeking their response on the matter.

Citing reports, Rajendran had said the MLAs told Rao they were “withdrawing” support to Palaniswami even as there was no change in the party’s February 14 unanimous decision to elect him as AIADMK Legislature Party Leader.

The legislators had also addressed the media, which was an “anti-party activity” and the act implied “voluntary relinquishing of membership”, Rajendran had said.

They were therefore liable to be disqualified under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, he had said in his petition to …read more