Former AIADMK MLA Vijayakumar expelled from party for supporting BJP’s three-language policy campaign

CHENNAI: Former AIADMK MLA and Tiruvallur (North) district Puratchi Thalaivi Peravai secretary K S Vijayakumar has been removed from his party positions and stripped of primary membership for participating in the BJP’s campaign in favour of the three-language policy.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, in a statement issued on Friday, said that Vijayakumar was expelled from both his party posts and primary membership for his actions that went against the party's core principles and brought disrespect to the organisation. The expulsion of the former MLA, who also held the position of Ellapuram North Union secretary, is effective immediately.

Palaniswami has instructed all functionaries and party members not to have any association with Vijayakumar.

Sources within the party indicated that this stern action was taken because Vijayakumar’s stance on the language policy was in direct contrast to the party's position. While AIADMK strictly adheres to the two-language policy and opposes the imposition of Hindi in TN, the former MLA's support for the BJP’s campaign in favour of the three-language policy—an integral part of the National Education Policy—was deemed unacceptable and a form of betrayal. This prompted the party leadership to swing into action, resulting in Vijayakumar's expulsion.

It may be recalled that last year, Palaniswami took disciplinary action against senior leader and former minister Thalavai N Sundaram for participating in the RSS route march in his native district. Sundaram was relieved from his party post on October 8 for actions that attracted significant criticism both inside and outside the party. However, within four weeks, Palaniswami reversed the decision and reinstated Sundaram as the Kanyakumari (East) district secretary.