Reports claimed that the two had been shown the door for ‘having contact’ with the rival DMK.
In an announcement, Jayalalithaa directed the party cadre not to have any truck with the two expelled legislators as they had acted against the principles and objectives of the AIADMK.
The two members were likely to be allotted separate seats in the Assembly if the AIADMK writes to the Speaker that they were sacked from the party. On receipt of such a letter, the Speaker is likely to declare them unattached members in the House.
In the event of the two joining other political parties, they would not incur disqualification on the ground of defection as they were expelled by the party.
With these expulsions, the strength of the AIADMK in the Assembly will come down from 59 to 57.
Radhakrishnan, who once held the portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Housing and Urban Development, was removed as the Tuticorin district secretary on Tuesday. He did not attend a meeting of district secretaries a few days ago in Kodanadu.
Shekher has been a dissident and rebuked the party leadership a year ago for not inviting him to a general council meeting. During the recent Budget session of the Assembly, he praised Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, evoking strong protest from AIADMK members. Shekher had also been complaining that he was not invited to meetings of party MLAs.
