According to AIADMK sources, the action against him concerned alleged irregularities in the run-up to the intra- party polls in his native Salem district and alleged non-fulfillment of tasks assigned to him in election preparations in Tirunelveli district.

Though Selvaganapathy did not want to comment on the action against him, a section of the party confirmed that his rivals among the party's state-level office-bearers had played a role in depriving him of his party post.

Jayalalitha had reviewed poll preparations at a meeting at the party office here yesterday.

Selvaganapathy, who was local administration minister in the Jayalalitha regime, is a co-accused with her in twocorruption cases, besides facing charges separately in a CBI case.