CHENNAI: BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran on Saturday (August 22) urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to identify and take stringent action against people with criminal backgrounds in his party, after a TVK member and his son were expelled over alleged honour killing.
In a statement, Nainar Nagenthran referred to reports that C Ezhumalai, a TVK member from Thaiyur near Kelambakkam, had allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend. "The reports that Ezhumalai, a TVK functionary, allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend are deeply shocking," Nainar said.
He alleged that incidents involving murder, robbery, sexual assault, rowdyism and extortion were increasingly being associated with TVK functionaries and claimed that an illegal network was emerging within the party.
"From the time Joseph Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, the lawlessness involving TVK functionaries has been increasing day by day. It is unfortunate that the party leadership appears unwilling to take note of it," he said.
Nainar also criticised the practice of expelling functionaries only after criminal incidents were reported, saying such action amounted to a mere eyewash. He urged Vijay to identify people with criminal records within the party and take firm preventive action to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, the ruling TVK on Saturday (August 22) expelled Ezhumalai and his son A Gautham from its primary membership.
In an order, TVK Chengalpattu East district secretary Thaiyur S Kumaravel said neither Ezhumalai nor Gautham had held any official position in the party and that both had joined as primary members through the TVK website.
"Both have acted against the law and violated the party's rules. Therefore, they have been officially removed from the primary membership of the TVK," Kumaravel said.
He directed party functionaries and cadres at all levels not to maintain any organisational contact with the duo or allow them to undertake activities in the party's name.