The Hindu : PDP expels Poonthura Siraj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

PDP expels Poonthura Siraj

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH 13. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) today ousted its vice-chairman, Poonthura Siraj, from the party for "anti-party activities".

C.K. Abdul Aziz, PDP working chairman, told reporters here today that the decision to expel Mr. Siraj was taken by the party leader, Abdul Nasir Maudauny, on the basis of a recommendation by the party State council.

Mr. Maudauny, in a communication, said that Mr. Siraj had kept off from party activities after the Ernakulam parliamentary elections. Mr. Siraj was fielded as a PDP candidate for the Ernakulam byelection after he gave a written assurance that he would work according to the party guidelines, the statement said. It said that Mr. Siraj's recent offer of support to the CPI(M) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections was taken after realising that he would be expelled from the party.

Siraj denies it

Our Staff Reporter adds from Thiruvananthapuram: Mr. Siraj urged the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, to withdraw the report submitted by the Kerala Police in a court in Coimbatore against the PDP chairman, Abdul Nazar Maudauny.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Siraj said Mr. Maudauny, who is lodged in the Coimbatore jail, could not come to Kerala for medical treatment or for trial in the cases pending against him here as the report submitted by the police had stated that his entry into the State would lead to law and order problem.

Mr. Siraj said the petitions submitted by Mr. Maudauny to the Tamil Nadu Government and in the courts seeking permission to come to Kerala were being rejected citing the police report. Mr. Antony, who is in charge of Home, should hold talks with the Tamil Nadu Government to enable Mr. Maudauny to come to Kerala.

Mr. Siraj, who denied reports that he had been removed from the post of vice-chairman, said the PDP's decision to support the LDF candidates in the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies and Wadakanchery Assembly constituency was taken with the consent of Mr. Maudauny.

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