OPS’ brother expelled from AIADMK

O Raja, brother of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was on Wednesday expelled from the ruling AIADMK for “indulging in anti-party activities.”

Ironically, the statement announcing the expulsion of Raja was signed by Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami – the coordinator and joint coordinator of the AIADMK respectively.

The terse statement, without going into details, said Raja was being removed for “indulging in anti-party activities and bringing disrepute to the AIADMK” and asked party cadres not to have any communication with him. Raja is a controversial figure in Theni district of Tamil Nadu and had fought a case relating to the murder of a temple priest a couple of years back.

Though the AIADMK did not elaborate on Raja’s expulsion, sources said the latter’s involvement in the co-operative elections through manipulative methods had caused unrest in the party and, hence, it was decided to expel him.

Panneerselvam is the number 1 in the AIADMK, according to a compromise formula between him and Palaniswami.