2 more relatives of Sasikala expelled

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday expelled two more relatives of her former aide V K Sasikala from the AIADMK’s primary membership and warned the party cadre not to have any truck with these persons. The AIADMK leader, on December 19 expelled Sasikala, her husband M Natarajan and 12 others from the party’s primary membership amidst reports that these people were interfering in the party affairs and government administration. Now, two more relatives of Sasikala — Kaliyaperumal and M Palinivel — have been expelled from the party. Pension for Tamil scholars doubled Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday doubled the monthly pension for elderly Tamil scholars in the State. The scholars now get Rs 1,000 per month. This will be hiked to Rs 2,000.  The measure will cost an additional expenditure of Rs 35 lakh per annum.The scheme to provide financial assistance to those scholars who worked hard for the development of Tamil language and literature was launched by former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran in 1978. Solatium grantedChief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday granted a solatium of Rs 1 lakh to the family of Ravi of Varapalayam, who was killed in a road accident near Chitharavuthanpalayam in Tirupur on December 21. She said the aid would be given from the CM’s Relief Fund.