MADURAI/TRICHY: On a day the ruling AIADMK expelled three more party functionaries for putting up posters welcoming former general secretary V K Sasikala from prison, fresh posters surfaced in many parts of Madurai and Sivaganga hailing her.
One set of posters describing her as the “permanent general secretary of AIADMK” appeared in many parts of Madurai city with due credit to K Bhoominathan, Amma Peravai secretary of 8th block. Madurai district MGR mandram deputy secretary T Thirumaran, Veerapandi panchayat president V Sugapriya Vijaykumar and another AIADMK functionary, A Muthukumaran, were among others who also put up posters. They hailed her as the epitome of sacrifice.
"Since there are no signs that Sasikala will be taken back into the AIADMK, there is no other go but to openly declare our support for her. She is the only person who can strengthen the party and prevent its downfall in the coming elections,’’ said A Kanna, Madurai West Ilaingnar Ilampengal Pasarai secretary. He said his appointment to the youth wing was made by J Jayalalithaa and Sasikala. He claimed that if AIADMK took a head count of its supporters, they will find it to be less than half crore and not 1.5 crore as claimed.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the chief minister and deputy chief minister in their capacity as party organisers, expelled the Andipatti west union MGR youth wing president Pannai M Chinnaraja for putting up posters hailing Sasikala.
In Trichy and Mayiladuthurai, the party expelled two more functionaries for activities against the principles of the party. They were former district panchayat vice-president of Thiruverumbur union, Arasangudi A N Saminathan, and minorities’ welfare wing secretary of Sembanarkovil north union in Mayiladuthurai district, A Qutubuddin.
In a joint statement, the CM and deputy CM asked party cadres not to have any truck with the expelled people as they had brought disrepute to the party. Meanwhile, son of deputy chief minister Panneerselvam, Jeya Pradeep, who created a flutter last week when he tweeted for Sasikala’s health, clarified his action again to reporters in Tiruchendur on Tuesday. He said he had only wished Sasikala well on humanitarian grounds and that he was in Tiruchendur temple to pray for AIADMK rule to be established for the third time under the guidance of the chief minister and deputy chief minister.
(With inputs from Gokul Rajendran in Trichy)