AIADMK’s stern warning to those in touch with Sasikala, expels 17 party workers, OPS elected deputy leader | India News

Chennai: AIADMK He warned of taking disciplinary action against the expelled party leaders on Monday VK SasikalaIt even expelled 17 members including party spokesperson V Pugazendhi.Most of the expelled are said to have spoken to ousted former interim general secretary VK Sasikala.A meeting of AIADMK legislators held at the party headquarters here, which passed a unanimous resolution warning of tougher action, also elected party coordinator and Panneerselvam as deputy leader of opposition in the assembly.AIADMK coordinator and former Chief Minister K Palaniswami On June 10, the leader of the opposition was elected.In the meeting that lasted for nearly three hours, the AIADMK MLAs discussed in detail the ‘leaked phone calls’ on social media, allegedly involving Sasikala with some of the AIADMK cadres.He reportedly said that he would return to the party in the near future.“After announcing that she would stay away from politics before the assembly elections, Sasikala now wants to take over the party after witnessing its spectacular growth. This is evident from media reports of her conversations with some party members,” said the motion moved by leaders Panneerselvam and Palaniswami.Calling for the immediate removal of those who spoke to Sasikala over the phone, the resolution said a statement on May 23 had already warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in anti-party activities.Dismissing Sasikala’s telephonic conversation with her party members as a “drama”, the AIADMK told the party that the party can never be destroyed for “desires of a family”.“We have successfully completed Jayalalitha’s rule disappointing those who thought there would be more chaos. Tamil Nadu (After Jayalalitha’s death)–The AIADMK-led alliance won 75 seats, defeated conspiracies and won public support,” the resolution said.As the main opposition party, the AIADMK has 66 MLAs, it said, and condemned Sasikala’s efforts to reach out to some party members.“He is trying to capture the party and creating a weird drama by talking to some people on the phone,” it said.Later, in a statement, the AIADMK announced the expulsion of 17 party workers for anti-party activities.In the meeting, Panneerselvam was elected Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, while former minister SP Velumani was elected party whip.S Ravi has been elected as deputy whip, former minister Kadambur C Raju as treasurer, former minister KP Anbalagan as secretary and PH Manoj Pandian as deputy secretary, a release issued by party leaders said.After the polls, besides sitting in the opposition after a decade of rule, the AIADMK has been grappling with the issue of allegedly leaked audio tapes involving the conversations of Sasikala, who took charge of the party after the death of J Jayalalithaa in 2016, and conversations of some AIADMK members.After the merger of the two parties led by Panareselvam and Palaniswami, the AIADMK ousted Sasikala.