Tamil Nadu / AIADMK expels 17 party members for speaking with ousted leader Sasikala

Chennai: AIADMK expelled16 party functionaries who interacted with former party leader VK Sasikala and the party has also expelled Spokesperson V Pugazhendi for anti-party activities in a party meeting held here on Monday.

In a statement, AIADMK termed VK Sasikala's telephonic conversations with party cadre as 'drama'; said the party will never destroy itself for the desires of one family

This comes after the Legislature Party meeting had passed a resolution calling for actions against those who spoke to Sasikala, close-aide of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

On Saturday, AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan had claimed that Sasikala is not a member of his party as she belongs to TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). "Sasikala is not a member of our party. She belongs to TTV Dhinakaran's group. She has no locus standi to say that she is going to revive AIADMK. Whoever is talking to Sasikala, they do not belong to AIADMK," Ponnaiyan had said.

Earlier, on May 30, Sasikala had dropped enough hints of returning to active politics after the COVID-19 pandemic. In an audio clip of a phone conversation between Sasikala and one of the party cadres, which has gone viral on social media, the leader was heard confirming her plans of her return into politics. This followed after AIADMK lost the power in Tamil Nadu elections to DMK. The phone call has been verified by Janarthanan, the personal assistant for AMMK General Secretary TTV Dinakaran.