The Tamil Nadu BJP has removed two party leaders from their responsibilities for violating party discipline after they openly criticised state unit Chief K Annamalai and senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan.
Kalyan Raman, who was part of the TN BJP’s intellectual wing, has been relieved of all party posts and suspended from the party for a period of one year. Similarly, Trichy Suriya, who was the general secretary of the OBC wing of TN BJP, has been relieved of all party responsibilities.
According to the BJP, the two leaders had allegedly violated party discipline, thereby bringing disrepute to the party. Following the Lok Sabha election results, Kalyan Raman has been harshly criticising the leadership of K Annamalai and his “war room.” He openly questioned Annamalai’s style of functioning and decision-making.
However, in a statement announcing the disciplinary action, the saffron party accused Kalyan Raman of spreading slander on social media about the state leadership and party workers without proper evidence. Trichy Suriya, in some of his recent interviews, made remarks that were critical of senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan.
The party has advised its functionaries and workers not to associate with these two leaders.
Speaking to the media after the BJP’s core committee meeting, K Annamalai stated that he had taken note of some party members criticising their own leaders on social media platforms and YouTube channels, and assured that disciplinary action was forthcoming.