MDMK expels Sathya citing anti-party activities, Vaiko's former loyalist hints at launching new party
Sathya had responded to the notice on August 24 by email and subsequently through registered post
Mallai Sathya
CHENNAI: MDMK has expelled its deputy general secretary, Mallai Sathya, from the party, citing disciplinary violations and anti-party activities.
In a statement, party general secretary Vaiko said Mallai Sathya, a life member from Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu district, had been served a show cause notice on August 17, 2025, asking why he should not be removed from the party for violating MDMK's principles and acting against its unity and reputation. As the response wasn’t satisfactory, he was stripped of his party post and removed from the primary membership of the party, the statement said.
Sathya had responded to the notice on August 24 by email and subsequently through registered post. However, the party’s disciplinary committee said, after reviewing his reply on September 6, it found that he neither denied the charges nor provided a satisfactory explanation.
“The charges against him stand proved. His conduct was against the party’s objectives, discipline and collective interest, and amounted to functioning against the leadership in public,” Vaiko said. Citing provisions of Rule 35 of the party’s constitution, the MDMK resolved to expel him from the party, stripping him of his party posts and primary membership.
Reacting to the decision, Sathya said he was not surprised, as he had anticipated such an outcome ever since Vaiko’s son, Durai, joined the party three years ago. He accused the MDMK chief of prioritising his son’s political future over the party’s good and democratic principles.
Sathya announced that he would hold a major event in Kancheepuram on Monday, where he and his supporters would unveil their political course of action, which could include the launch of a new party.
Once a staunch supporter of Vaiko, Sathya fell out with him after the rise of Durai Vaiko, who was appointed as the party’s headquarters secretary in 2021 and then promoted to principal secretary. Tensions between the two peaked in April this year, prompting Vaiko to broker a truce after his son briefly stepped down from the post. However, differences resurfaced in July when Vaiko himself accused Sathya of indulging in anti-party activities, leading to his ultimate removal from the party.
