The former Deputy Mayor of the Madurai Corporation, ‘Misa’ M. Pandian, who was treasurer of the Madurai urban unit of the DMK and a staunch loyalist of rebel leader M.K. Alagiri, and nine others were placed under suspension by the party high command on Sunday.
DMK men here said that along with Mr. Pandian, the party also suspended former MLA Ghouse Batcha, former councillor R.S. Ramalingam, district functionaries R.B. Udayakumar, Sivakumar, Subbulakshmi, Isakkimuthu, Gopinathan (his wife was former Mayor), V.N. Murugan and Subbulakshmi.
When contacted, one of the suspended functionaries said: “When our leader Mr. Alagiri himself has been removed, our suspension is no news... We anticipated this action to come after the Lok Sabha elections. There are several thousands of supporters for Mr. Alagiri. Can the party act against all of them?”
Action justified However, an office-bearer of the DMK Madurai unit said the action was warranted since these party members shared a dais with MDMK general secretary Vaiko during an election meeting at Jaihindpuram here.
