Two former AIADMK ministers, 15,000 supporters to join TVK in Mamallapuram

Chennai: Former AIADMK ministers Dr C. Vijayabaskar and M.R. Vijayabhaskar are set to formally join the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday in Mamallapuram, accompanied by about 15,000 supporters and party workers, organisers said.

The induction will take place at a private hotel near Mamallapuram and will be led by senior TVK ministers N. Anand and Adhav Arjuna. The event is expected to include several prominent former AIADMK figures, such as ex-ministers S. Valarmathi (Tiruchirappalli) and M.S.M. Anandan (Tiruppur), and former MLAs Manraj (Srivilliputhur), M. Ramkumar (Kumbakonam), Rajavarman (Tiruchirappalli), Sathyan Prabhakar (Paramakudi) and Thirugnanasambandam (Peravurani).

District-level leaders reported to be joining include P.K. Vairamuthu (Pudukottai), Ilambai Tamilselvan (Perambalur), Orathanadu M. Sekar (Thanjavur) and Srinivasan (Tiruchirappalli), along with 208 former AIADMK union secretaries. Organisers said supporters travelled from across Tamil Nadu in nearly 200 buses and more than 600 cars.

In a joint statement, Dr C. Vijayabaskar and M.R. Vijayabhaskar said they had remained loyal to AIADMK but grew disillusioned after their recommendation that party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami seek an electoral alliance with TVK was ignored. They alleged Palaniswami pursued an understanding with the DMK to secure the chief ministership — a move they described as “unnatural” and inconsistent with AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran’s principles.

Saying they left AIADMK “with tears in our eyes,” the two leaders added they were joining TVK to pursue a new political direction and continue serving the people of Tamil Nadu.

(Inputs from IANS)