One more legislator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, K. Rajendran, defied the party leadership on Friday and called on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
Emerging from a meeting with the Chief Minister at the Gopalapuram residence in the morning, the AIADMK MLA, who was elected from Jayankondan Assembly constituency in the 2006 election, told reporters that he came to represent to Mr. Karunanidhi the requirements and problems of the people in his constituency.
Mr. Rajendran, who defeated Pattali Makkal Katchi’s J. Guru by a margin of 2,000 votes, was the secretary of Jayankondan union of the J. Jayalalithaa Peravai.
A few hours after the meeting, a release issued by AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa stated that the MLA was removed from the post.
A week ago, the Kovilpatti MLA L. Radhakrishnan called on the Chief Minister at the DMK party headquarters, citing the same reason.
The Jayankondan MLA said he did not want to remain like a puppet legislator and the people of his constituency wanted him to ensure that the basic amenities were provided. He requested Mr. Karunanidhi to widen the Tiruchi-Chidambaram road; expedite the repairs of a bridge in Anaikarai and build a big bus terminus in Jayankondan.
He discussed with him the Jayankondan integrated lignite-cum-power generation project.
Mr. Rajendran commended Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja for his work in Ariyalur and Perambalur districts.
Bid to mislead people
Referring to Ms. Jayalalithaa’s plan to hold a demonstration in Villupuram on February 13 to highlight the problems of sugarcane farmers, the AIADMK legislator said that when Ms. Jayalalalithaa was the Chief Minister, the procurement price per tonne was Rs. 775. But, under the DMK government, it was increased to Rs. 1,550, higher than what was determined by the Union government. He described the proposed agitation as an attempt to mislead the people.
