Chennai, July 29: Expelled AIADMK leader and founder of the newly floated AMMK, TTV Dhinakaran, was the target of a petrol bomb attack in Chennai on Sunday. At least two people - Dhinakaran's driver and personal photographer - were left injured. They have been hospitalised for treatment.

Dhinakaran, however, did not sustain any injury as he was not in the car when the petrol bomb was hurled. The incident is likely to evoke protests from the AMMK cadres.

The petrol bomb left the SUV glass shield shattered with broken pieces of the window scattered all over the road. Chennai police has launched an investigation into the incident. CCTV footages of nearby shops and restaurants are being analysed to identify the attackers.

Dhinakaran, 54, is the legislator from RK Nagar constituency, the assembly segment last represented by late former CM Jayalalithaa. In the by-elections held last year, Dhinakaran, who fought on the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam ticket, won with a landslide mandate against the AIADMK led by Panneerselvam-Palaniswami combine.

Dhinakaran, the former number 2 in AIADMK, was expelled from the party shortly after his aunt and Jayalalithaa loyalist VK Sasikala was removed from all party posts post her conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

The Sasikala camp, however, has accused Chief Minister Palaniswami of staging a coup against "those leaders who were closest to Jayalalithaa", the party matriarch.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2018 02:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).