CHENNAI: In a fresh episode of tussle for power within the party, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday expelled GK Mani, MLA from the Pennagaram Assembly constituency and a loyalist of party founder S Ramadoss, from the party’s primary membership for “engaging in activities detrimental to the party and its leadership.”

In a statement, Anbumani said that Mani had been consistently acting against the interests of the PMK and its leadership. He referred to the party’s disciplinary action committee’s notice to the Ramadoss supporter on December 18, seeking an explanation within one week.

“As the stipulated deadline expired yesterday (Thursday) without any response or explanation from GK Mani, the disciplinary action committee convened a meeting in Chennai to deliberate on the matter. In the absence of any clarification from him regarding the allegations of anti-party activities, the committee recommended to the party president that he be removed from primary membership in accordance with rule 30 of the party bylaws,” the statement read.

Accepting this recommendation, PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss said he is expelling GK Mani from the primary membership of the PMK with effect from Friday, the statement said.

The party has also appealed to all PMK members not to maintain any form of contact with Mani following his expulsion.