Palaniswami expels O Panneerselvam's sons, 16 others from AIADMK
Chennai, Jul 14: AIADMK interim general secretary K Palaniswami on Thursday expelled O Panneerselvam's (OPS) two sons, and his 16 other supporters from the party.
Following this, Panneerselvam's camp demanded that the government intervene to ensure that the official residence of Palaniswami is not used for political purposes.
Raveendranath, AIADMK's Lok Sabha MP from Theni constituency, and Jeyapradeep, both of whom are sons of OPS and a former Minister, Vellamandi N Natarajan were expelled. Natarajan is the Tiruchirappalli-based party strongman who sided with Panneerselvam.
OPS's loyalist in his home district of Theni, SPM Syed Khan, a former MP and also the Theni District Secretary, was ousted from the party. In a party release, Palaniswami said the move is a disciplinary action and all the 18 of them have acted against party interests, principles and brought disrepute to the organisation. With the move, almost all of the key functionaries who were vocal in their support to Pannerselvam have been shown the door.
Kovai Selvaraj, a former MLA, and Marudhu Alaguraj, both spokespersons of the AIADMK, were eased out of the party. Alaguraj is also the editor of party organ 'Namadhu Amma' and his name appeared as editor even in the July 14 edition of the daily.
Former MLA from Chennai VNP Venkatraman (Trade wing secretary), SA Asokan, Kanyakumari east party district secretary, Kolathur D Krishnamurthy, an office-bearer of MGR youth wing, were relieved from their posts and the party membership.
Former legislator belonging to neighbouring Puducherry Om Shakthi Sekar and former MP R Gopalakrishnan were among others who were expelled from the party's primary membership. On July 11, the AIADMK general council meeting expelled Panneerselvam and 3 of his supporters including Thanjavur district based R Vaithilingam from the party.
Just after he was expelled, Selvaraj wrote to the state Chief Secretary to not allow political meetings in the official bungalow allotted here to Palaniswami, in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition.
While the bungalow should be used as per law for only residential purpose, Palaniswami convened a meeting of AIADMK legislators at his official residence on July 17, he said. In case of violation, action should be taken to initiate eviction proceedings according to law, he added.
JCD Prabhakar, a well-known Panneerselvam loyalist who was days ago expelled from the party, said that time would one day teach a fitting lesson to Palaniswami.
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Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren passes away at 62
Ranchi, Aug 15 (PTI): Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren died on Friday, JMM national spokesperson Kunal Sarangi said.
He was 62.
Soren was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted on August 2.
"State Education Minister Ramdas Soren, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi, is no more," Sarangi told PTI.
Soren's condition was critical and he was on life support, Sarangi said.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was airlifted to the hospital in the national capital from Jamshedpur after he fell in the bathroom of his residence on August 2.
A multidisciplinary team of senior specialists was closely monitoring his condition and providing intensive medical care.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled his death.
Hemant Soren, in a post on X, wrote, "Ramdas Da (brother) should not have left us like this. Last greetings to Dada..."
Ramdas Soren, born in Ghorabandha village in East Singhbhum district on January 1, 1963, began his political journey as the gram pradhan of the Ghorabanda panchayat, eventually rising to become one of the most influential ministers in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet.
He won the Ghatshila assembly seat for the third time in 2024 by defeating BJP's Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.
ऐसे छोड़ कर नहीं जाना था रामदास दा...
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 15, 2025
अंतिम जोहार दादा... pic.twitter.com/5cKZkpIe9Z
