Chennai

Office-bearers of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit were in for a shock on Thursday after the party’s intellectual wing president Arjuna Murthy posed with actor Rajinikanth during a press meet at Poes Garden.

Soon, General Secretary Karu Nagarajan in a statement announced Murthy’s expulsion from all posts, including the party’s primary membership.

“Arjuna Murthy is just one among many party workers and his resignation will not affect the prospects of BJP,” Nagarajan told DT Next.

As the actor introduced Murthy as the to-be-announced party’s chief coordinator, several BJP workers claimed they were unaware of his moves as he had been very active even when Union Minister Amit Shah made a politically significant visit to poll-bound Tamil Nadu.

“Arjuna Murthy was active with us even during the recent Vel Yatra and congratulated the party state president L Murugan, but we were in the dark over his decision. There is every possibility of Rajini having an alliance with BJP,” admitted a party insider.