Krishnamurthy's quitting BJP will not affect party: Kesavalu

Pondicherry, Mar 9 (UNI) Bharathiya Janata Party Pondicherry president R Kesavalu today said the quitting of the lone legislator A M Krishnamurty will not affect the party.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Mr Krishnamurthy did not inform the party that he was quitting the BJP.

However, Mr Kesavalu said he was in touch with the party high command and Mr Krishnamurthy would be expelled soon from the party.

He maintained that before quitting, he should have obtained prior consent of the party leadership.

Mr Kesavalu said Mr Krishnamurthy had cited torture and appointment of Ms Lalitha Kumaramangalam in the party, as reasons for his resignation.

''There was no torture and he was given all respect in the party,'' he said. After enjoying all benefits from the party for nearly five years, he was planning to join the AIADMK only to enjoy ''monetary'' benefit and his act was ''suicidal,'' Mr Kesavalu said.

Mr Krishnamurty resigned from the membership of the Territorial Assembly today and tendered his papers to the speaker M D R Ramachandran, which was accepted with effect from this afternoon.

Mr Krishnamurthy will be joining the AIADMK in the presence of Ms Jayalalithaa in Chennai this evening.

He was elected on the BJP ticket in the 2001 Assembly elections from Reddiyarpalayam constituency.

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