Suspended DMK leader lashes out at party

Chennai, June 22: A day after

suspended 33 senior party leaders based on recommendations of an internal panel,

member K P Ramalingam on Sunday lashed out at the party for taking an "autocratic" decision in suspending him without seeking an explanation.

"They have taken an autocratic decision. I have been serving the organisation for more than 25 years in a responsible position. I take this as an insult to me," he told a private Tamil news channel.

"They have taken this decision (suspension) before seeking an explanation from me. We should have been asked to come (to party headquarters) and allowed to explain. I came to know I was suspended only through press and television channels," he said.

DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan however defended the party decision, saying it was taken based on recommendations of an internal panel.

Sending a strong signal that indiscipline would not be tolerated, DMK had yesterday suspended 33 senior leaders, including former union minister S S Palanimanickam,and slapped show cause notices on them, asking them why they should not be expelled from the party against the backdrop of its rout in recent Lok Sabha polls.

The action was based on recommendations of an internal panel which had pointed out lapses and acts of indiscipline by some leaders that led to the party's rout in the hustings, besides feedback from unsuccesful candidates, poll managers and party workers.

DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan had stated yesterday that the leaders, including Ramalingam, had been directed to furnish their replies within a week, failing which the party would conclude that they have no explanation to offer and would "summarily" expel them.

PTI