Five days after expelling deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s brother O Raja from the party, the AIADMK revoked his expulsion on Monday.
In a statement signed by both O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, it has been stated that O Raja, the former President of Periyakulam Municipality, expressed regret for his actions in writing and also in person and hence he is brought back to the party. “Since he expressed regret for his actions in a letter and also in person and requested us to take him back in the party, from today, he will resume his membership and is permitted to carry on party-work,” reads the statement in Tamil.
The AIADMK expelled O Raja on December 19 for anti-party activities accusing him of acting him in a manner that brings disrepute to the party. The expulsion order signed by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami stated that Raja was being expelled for 'working against party principles, for acting in a way that brings taint to the party and for violating rules and acting in a way that will defame the party'. The statement also urged the cadres to sever all ties with him.
Though it was initially alleged that the action against deputy Chief Minister’s brother was over his meeting with Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) Chief TTV Dhinakaran in September, sources told TNM that the expulsion is a result of infighting. Raja's decision to contest elections in the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation from Madurai has angered factions in the party, leading to his dismissal.