The DMK president and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin have decided to week out "unruly elements" from the party as they bring disrepute to the organisations. A senior DMK official said, "Chief Minister had directed all the party District Secretaries to take immediate action against any party leader or cadre who had acted against the principles put forward by the party."
"With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls a few months away and the DMK calling for nothing short of a win in all the 39 seats in the state, the party has to sacrifice the black sheep and to present a more amicable public face," he said.
The move comes after a recent issue due to DMK Tirunelveli MP Gnanathiraviam's high-handedness. The DMK MP along with his supporters reportedly assaulted a priest in a fight over power struggles within the Chruch of South India. After the incident, the police registered an FIR.
The DMK general secretary S Durai Murugan also issued a show cause notice to the MP. Many other local DMK cadres were also expelled or suspended from the party based on complaints on several issues including land mafia and hobnobbing with financiers among others.
Earlier, DMK expelled party orator Sivaji Krishnamurthy for speaking ill about National Women's Commission member Khushbu Sundar. He had also attacked Governor RN Ravi.
In another incident, former Deputy Mayor of Madurai Corporation MISA Pandian came under the scanner of the party. Pandian had reportedly issued death threats to DMK woman councilor. Based on a complaint, Stalin immediately suspended Pandian from the party.
The supporters of Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru ransacked the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Siva and injured a few of the latter's supporters.
The source said, "The CM does not want party cadre and lower level leaders to spoil the face of the party at least till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are over."