Jayalalithaa sacks ex-ministers from key party posts after their poll defeat

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa has sacked several ex-ministers from key party posts after their defeat in the assembly polls, as she sets the stage for a major overhaul in the party organisation.

According to the Times of India (TOI) on Thursday, a fresh list of 38 office bearers has been prepared by the AIADMK “to revitalise the party” in the run-up to the civic poll, which is just months away.

The report said that the AIADMK chief has removed 10 former ministers from key party posts.

She has also changed the party secretaries in districts where AIADMK suffered major losses.

"The party suffered its worst setback in Chennai, an effect of the December deluge, losing 10 seats to DMK. We have to strengthen our campaign here for the local body election," the report said citing a senior party leader.

The party's disciplinary and petitions committees of all 234 assembly constituencies have also been dissolved.

The party has also appointed 14 spokespersons, including RS MPs S R Balasubramonian and R Vaithilingam, the report added.