Tamil Nadu: BJP Madurai District President Saravanan Announces His Resignation From Party

Saravanan, while speaking to the media persons outside Finance Minister PTR's residence, said that he joined BJP a year ago after quitting DMK but doesn't like BJP anymore

Hours after Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan's official vehicle was attacked, a group of BJP workers hurled a slipper at the minister's car at the Madurai airport, the BJP district President Saravanan announced his resignation to the party on Saturday.

Saravanan met the finance minister on Saturday evening and apologised for the embarrassment the former faced at the Madurai airport earlier in the day. "The attack on the Minister's car made me feel uneasy. So I met the State Finance Minister and apologized for today's incident. It is a relief to meet him and apologise," Saravanan said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Condemning BJP worker's act, Saravanan further said, "The incident at the Madurai airport affected me deeply. I met the finance minister at midnight and apologised for today's incident. It is sad that the BJP workers behaved out of control at Madurai airport."

Saravanan, while speaking to the media persons outside Finance Minister PTR's residence, said that he joined BJP a year ago after quitting Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) but doesn't like BJP anymore. When asked about rejoining DMK, Saravanan said, "Peace of mind is more important to me than the BJP post. I will not continue with BJP. I am going to send my resignation letter to BJP in the morning. I have not taken any decision about joining DMK, but there is nothing wrong with joining DMK."

Meanwhile, five BJP workers were taken into custody for allegedly hurling slippers at state minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan's car at Madurai airport on Saturday. They have been arrested under various sections including 506, 341, 34 of IPC, said Madurai Police Commissioner. the police further said that the probe is still underway.

The incident occurred while the minister was returning after paying homage to Indian Army rifleman, Lakshmanan, who was one of the four soldiers killed in a terror attack in J&K's Rajouri district on Thursday. 

Police said that there was a heated argument between BJP cadres and Minister Thiaga Rajan after the latter questioned BJP workers' presence at a state government-organised event.