He was a DMK parliamentarian for two terms. The resignation came hours before DMK president M. Karunanidhi was to launch the election campaign.

In a letter to Karunanidhi, which was also released to the media, Sarath Kumar said he was resigning from the DMK's primary membership "with a heavy heart".

He told Karunanidhi that DMK "only wanted dumb slaves".

The actor with 100 films to his credit said he had been "humiliated" in the DMK. He had brought this to Karunanidhi's attention but to no avail, he complained.

Sarath Kumar was earlier scheduled to meet Karunanidhi at the DMK headquarters here, but instead sent his resignation letter.

He has been calling for greater representation for the Nadar community in the list of DMK candidates for the May assembly polls.

There have been reports that Sarath Kumar was keen on the assembly ticket but had been denied.

A recent meeting of the Sarath Kumar Fans Association in Tirunelveli had voiced disappointment at the treatment allegedly meted out to him by the DMK.