Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thangkabalu has expelled 19 members, including former Deputy Mayor of Chennai Corporation Karate R. Thiagarajan, sitting MLA S.Ve. Shekher and Chennai South District Congress president S. Mangalraj, besides a couple of Youth Congress functionaries, from the party.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, he said that these members were removed from the party's primary membership for acting against official candidates and working against the party's interests. Moreover, they helped the Opposition parties by indulging in illegal activities and false propaganda in the run-up to the Assembly election.
Claiming that as TNCC chief he had the authority to expel them, Mr. Thangkabalu urged party members not to have any organisational contact with the expelled members.
“These people have acted against the Congress and its alliance partners. I have evidence to prove it. The Congress high command is aware of the developments and nothing happens without the knowledge of [party president] Sonia Gandhi. I am still getting information from my colleagues about the anti-party activities of some members in other districts and suitable action will be taken. A letter has been sent to the high command to take action against some Youth Congress members,” he said.
Charge rejected
Mr. Thiagarajan and Mr. Shekher rejected the charges against them and questioned Mr. Thangkabalu's authority to remove them.
“He does not have the authority to expel members without seeking the All India Congress Committee's approval. He has expelled all those persons who had opposed him,” Mr. Shekher said.
Mr. Shekher, who was elected in 2006 from Mylapore on an AIADMK ticket, joined the Congress in January. “As a sitting MLA, I can't be removed without the AICC's approval,” he added.
“We will not rest until Mr. Thangkabalu is removed from the president post,” Mr. Thiagarajan said.
Among those who were expelled are M. Muthusamy, K. Sengai Sellappan, Shanti Sambandam, Youth Congress Mylapore district president D. Vijayasekhar, South Chennai Youth Congress president James G. Prakash, Youth Congress Central Chennai General Secretary Ranjan Kumar, Youth Congress Kancheepuram district vice-president R.V. Ranjith Kumar, Erode district Youth Congress president J. Suresh, Erode district Youth Congress general secretary Sakthivel and Tirupur district Youth Congress president Jawahar Babu, former Congress student functionaries Kamal, Pavankumar, A.R. Govindarajan, S. Thirugnanam and K.R. Nadimuthu of Pattukottai and Santhakumar of Vilivakkam.
Later, Mr. Shekher called on Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan. Mr. Thiagarajan met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
