Tirupur: The AIADMK has removed 25 functionaries of its Erode rural district unit after they boycotted the inauguration function of the party’s election office in Perundurai, which comes under the Tirupur Lok Sabha constituency, and gathered in a separate place to meet the party candidate MSM Anandan.Sources said the party high command took the decision after rival candidates pressed the Erode district election authorities to book Anandan for the unlawful gathering of his supporters.However, the authorities have not registered any case against the supporters for the unlawful gathering, which was confirmed by Perundurai assistant returning officer Jayaraman.It all started due to an internal feud between the removed functionaries and Perundurai MLA ND Venkatachalam.The rift between them came in open when five people were booked recently for allegedly threatening C Shankar, a prime accused in emu poultry scam and a close aide of Venkatachalam.On Sunday, school education minister KA Sengottaiyan in presence of Venkatachalam and Anandan inaugurated the election office in Perundurai.Hundreds of cadres led by Erode district MGR youth wing joint secretary S Jayakumar did not attend the inauguration function. Instead, they waited separately near Perundurai government hospital.They had gathered without police permission and burst crackers amid resonance music. They did not disperse despite warning from police. Sengottaiyan and Anandan later met the cadres separately.The party high command has announced names as replacement for for posts held by removed functionaries.“We were asked to explain about the issue. We will soon submit our explanation with required evidence to show how we were treated inappropriately at the behest of Venkatachalam and few other district functionaries. We were assured that if our explanation was satisfactory, we will get back our posts. Since it is election season, we will not escalate the issue,” said a functionary who was one among the removed functionaries.

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