Expelled MLA Kamaraj will face disqualification: AMMK chief Dhinakaran

Tiruchirappalli: T T V Dhinakaran, chief of AMMK, said on Sunday that his party MLA, S Kamaraj, who supported the TVK government during the floor test, would face disqualification.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which was allied with the NDA comprising AIADMK, BJP and PMK, contested 11 Assembly seats in the Tamil Nadu elections and secured victory only in the Mannargudi constituency.

AMMK candidate S Kamaraj won the election by defeating senior DMK leader T R B Rajaa by a margin of 1,566 votes.

On May 12, Dhinakaran “removed” his party’s lone MLA from the organisation for the legislator’s “unilateral” support for the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

“Kamaraj’s action is a major betrayal of the workers of AMMK, as well as those from alliance parties who worked for his victory in the election, besides the people who placed their faith in him and voted for him,” he had said.

The development comes days after Dhinakaran levelled “horse-trading” allegations against TVK over his MLA’s alleged support for the ruling party, charges that TVK dismissed.

“I have now removed Kamaraj from the party. Let him go and join the other side (TVK) and become a minister if they offer him the post. Then we shall see what the next step is. Even if only one MLA defects, disqualification provisions will apply,” Dhinakaran told reporters here.

“He (Kamaraj) thinks we cannot take action because he is the party’s lone MLA. We will take the necessary steps. TVK accepting his support is legally questionable. We will strongly oppose what we consider a case of ‘horse-trading,’” he alleged.

Emphasising the enduring legacy of AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran (MGR) and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Dhinakaran urged party leaders to maintain unity and avoid hasty decisions that could “demoralise cadres”.

The AMMK leader also expressed confidence that AIADMK would overcome its challenges and “create history” in the upcoming parliamentary elections.