BJP expels functionary for filing nomination as independent

Trichy: BJP's Thanjavur south district deputy president R Muralidharan was expelled from the party on Friday after he filed his nomination papers for the Thanjavur constituency before the party announced its official candidate. BJP's state general secretary Karuppu M Muruganandham has been fielded as the party's official candidate from the constituency on the list released on Friday.Muralidharan, 51, filed his nomination as an independent on Monday. After filing his papers, Muralidharan told reporters that he took the decision to ‘satisfy the party cadre', who were feeling ‘dejected and confused' due to the delay in announcing candidates while other parties had already begun campaigning. He added that he would abide by the party's final decision and withdraw his nomination if the BJP nominated someone else. However, after the ouster on Friday, Muralidharan said he would contest as an independent candidate from Thanjavur. "I accept and respect the party's decision. I filed my nomination and started campaigning with the hope that the leadership would announce me as the candidate for Thanjavur. It would have been better if disciplinary action had been taken only after the BJP released its candidate list. Taking action before that is painful. Nevertheless, I will contest as an independent candidate," he told reporters on Friday. Following Muralidharan's action triggered controversy in the party, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, in a statement issued on Friday, said, "R Muralidharan has been removed from his party post and basic membership for violating party discipline and tarnishing its image. All party functionaries have been barred from having any contact with him."