MDMK leader quits party, joins DMK

Chennai, July 12: Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) Political Research Wing leader and High-level Committee member Mohan Sabapathy today quit the party and joined the ruling DMK along with about 250 of his supporters.

Mr Sabapathy, a professor at Annamalai University of Chidambaram, was close to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and was considered as a powerful orator of the party.

He had unsuccessfuly contested from North Chennai in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and Nellikuppam in last May's Assembly elections in alliance with the AIADMK.

Party sources said Mr Sababathy, who had been with Mr Vaiko since he walked out from the DMK and floated the MDMK 12 years ago, showed disinterest in continuing in the party as he could not get the the Deputy General Secretary's post.

After Former Union Minister Gingee N Ramachandran, who held Deputy General Secretary post, quit the party along with Presidium Chairman L Ganesan, Mr Sabapathy was eyeing the post but it was denied to him, they said.

He was also upset with the party leadership for not negotiating with the AIADMK and nominate him in the recent Rajya Sabha biennial election from Tamil Nadu.

UNI