DMK suspends Madurai mayor's hubby Ponvasanth
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Madurai: DMK high command has temporarily suspended Pon Vasanth, husband of Madurai mayor Indrani Ponvasanth, for alleged anti-party activities and repeated interference in the functioning of the city corporation.
The action was taken on a directive from party general secretary
Durai Murugan
, who stated that Vasanth's actions were against the party's interests.
A senior functionary, Vasanth had earlier held the post of secretary of DMK's Madurai urban central area committee. He drew the party's ire for organising a corporation council meeting on May 24, the day a high-level consultation meeting with district secretaries, attended by minister P Moorthy, was scheduled.
The meeting was part of the party's build-up to the general council meet to be attended by chief minister M K Stalin.
Of the DMK's 67 councillors, just eight were in attendance at the corporation council meeting a week ago, including mayor Indrani Ponvasanth.
A senior party source told TOI that Vasanth pushed for the corporation meeting despite opposition from party functionaries, forcing a clash in schedules. "He even sought support from AIADMK councillors to push through resolutions when quorum was lacking.
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Though he is a close aide of finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, their relations have strained in the last few months, adding to the tensions," he added.
According to DMK Madurai city secretary and Madurai North MLA G Thalapathi, Vasanth's suspension followed repeated warnings over his interference in the corporation's administrative affairs. "This decision has nothing to do with the mayor. The party is satisfied with her governance, and she will continue in her role," Thalapathi said. Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth was unavailable for comment.
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