Senior MDMK leader quits party, assembly

Pollachi (Tamil Nadu), March 11 (IANS) Senior MDMK leader M. Kannappan Wednesday decided to quit the party and the Tamil Nadu assembly following differences with his leader Vaiko.

'I am forced to take this extreme step because Vaiko is sidelining me in the party and has accused me of falling prey to the machinations of the chief minister (M. Karunanidhi) to break our organisation,' MDMK presidium chairman Kannappan told reporters here.

'Vaiko told me that I had committed high treason against the party by meeting the chief minister when he was in hospital a few days ago. All I had done was enquiring about Kalaignar's health. Having lost Vaiko's faith in me, there is no meaning in my continuing in the party,' he said.

'After sending my formal resignation to the speaker of the assembly and the appropriate correspondence to Vaiko tomorrow (Thursday), I will consult supporters to decide my future course of action,' he added.

Kannappan was speaking to reporters at his residence in Pollachi, some 500 km southwest of state capital Chennai and abutting his assembly constituency of Thondamuththur.

MDMK has six legislators in the state assembly.