Barely four days after O. Raja, brother of AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, was expelled from the organisation for “anti-party activities”, the high command on Monday reinstated him, accepting his ‘apology’.
The development left many second-line leaders and functionaries in the southern districts stunned.
Sources said that during Monday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr. Panneerselvam appeared tense.
Written apology
In the evening, a statement signed by Mr. Panneerselvam and party co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami [who had expelled Mr. Raja] said that since “he has apologised in person and given a written apology for his actions, and sought reinstatement into the party, O. Raja is being made a member (of AIADMK)”.
Relieved of posts
The AIADMK announced that Ministers C.Ve Shanmugam and Sevur S. Ramachandran were relieved from their posts as organising secretaries. K. Ponnusamy, joint secretary of the MGR Mandram, and R. Lakshmanan, MP, the Villupuram North District party secretary, have also been relieved. Mr. Lakshmanan has been appointed as an organising secretary, K. Ponnusamy, the party propaganda deputy secretary and C.Ve Shanmugham appointed as the Villupuram North District party secretary.
AIADMK has announced that a five-member committee will look into petitions received from party members. The committee will comprise Member of Parliament R. Vaithilingam, K.P. Munusamy, Natham R Viswanathan, P. Thangamani and S.P. Velumani.
