(Rpt adding matter in para five line two)

Pondicherry, June 19 (UNI) The Congress today expelled former minister V Pethaperumal from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activites.

The Pradesh Congress Committee(PCC) President P Shanmugham in a statement here said the party had announced N S J Jayabal, alias Iyyanaar as the offical candidate for the post of Ozhukarai municipality chairman and he alone would contest on the 'hand' symbol.

Mr Pethaperumal, however, is contesting for the post as an Independent, which is a clear violation of the party discipline and construed as anti-party activites. Hence, he is being expelled from the primary membership of the party and also from the status of a Special Invitee to the PCC.

Congress volunteers should not have any truck with Mr Pethaperumal and should strive hard to ensure the victory of Mr Jayabal, the statement added.

It may be noted that Mr Pethaperumal, who was President of the Pondicherry unit of the Janata Dal (United) dissolved the party and joined the Congress about 22 months ago.

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