Day after unity demand, EPS sacks Sengottaiyan

IN an attempt to firmly assert his position and send a warning to dissenters within the party, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday removed K A Sengottaiyan, veteran party leader and Gobichettipalayam MLA, from the post of AIADMK's organisation secretary and the secretary of party's Erode Rural West District unit.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai/Erode

The move followed the 10-day ultimatum issued by the nine-time MLA to Palaniswami on Friday to initiate measures to allow the return of leaders, including former CM O Panneerselvam, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala, to the party.

Palaniswami also removed eight of Sengottaiyan's supporters from their party posts. However, none were expelled from the party. The statements, removing Sengottaiyan and other functionaries from their posts, did not mention any reason for the action.

AK Selvaraj, Mettupalayam MLA and an organising secretary of the party, was appointed as secretary in-charge of Erode Rural West District party unit in the place of Sengottaiyan.

Sengottaiyan told reporters in Erode that the party leadership should have adhered to democratic norms and sought his explanation first.