Chennai: The AIADMK stung by the defections of senior leaders into the DMK fold after it lost in Erode rural district and other areas, has as a measure to pacify the tensions in the party district unit, bifurcated its Erode Rural district unit into Erode East and Erode West while retaining Erode Urban district as such.
Former Education minister in the AIADMK government and senior party leader, K.A. Sengottayan will be the secretary of the newly formed Erode West Suburban district. Three assembly constituencies fall under this newly formed district which include Gobichettipalyam, Anthiyur, and Bhavanisagar (reserved). While Gobichettipalayam and Bahavinisagar are represented by the AIADMK in the assembly, Anthiyur has a DMK member in the House.
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AIADMK leader and environment minister in the Edappadi K. Palaniswami government, K.C. Karuppanan who was also the secretary of the unified Erode Rural will now be in charge of the Erode East Rural district carved out of Erode Rural. Two constituencies, Perundurai and Bhavani represented by AIADMK members fall under this constituency.
The bifurcation of Erode rural was announced by the AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday after there were reports of a large number of leaders and cadres shifting their allegiance to the DMK.