PMK dismisses rebel legislator

The Vanniar caste PMK Thursday dismissed its legislator M. Kalaiarasu from the party's primary membership for anti-party activities.

In a statement, party president G.K. Mani said Kalaiarasu was functioning against partymen in his Annaikattu constituency in Vellore district and also in a manner that brought disrepute to the party.

Hence, he was removed from the party's primary membership and also from other positions, he said.

The action against Kalaiarasu came after he met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Thursday.

Asked for his reaction on the PMK's action, Kalaiarasu told IANS: "I still consider Ramadoss (party founder S. Ramadoss) as my leader."

On the reasons behind meeting Jayalalithaa, he said: "I met her to thank her for setting up a Taluk office in my constituency. Till now, people had to spend money and time to visit Vellore for any certificate. I also wished her on her turning 66."

A first-time member of the assembly, Kalaiarasu said that in north India, lawmakers belonging to opposition parties do meet and mingle with members of the ruling party and also meet the chief ministers.

"Only in Tamil Nadu, meeting the chief minister is considered wrong by opposition parties," he said.

DMDK rebel legistor M. Arun Subramanian, representing the Tiruttani seat, also met Jayalalithaa Thursday.

He is the eighth lawmaker from actor-turned-politician A. Vijayakant's DMDK party to have met Jayalalithaa.

Unlike the PMK, the DMDK has not taken any action against its rebels till date.

DMDK's deputy leader in the assembly, Panruti S. Ramachandran recently resigned from the party and also from the assembly to join the ruling AIADMK.

The DMDK has 28 members in the 235-member assembly.