Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Jun 6: The AIADMK suffered another political setback on Saturday as four former ministers and senior leaders switched allegiance to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), underscoring the continuing challenges facing the opposition party after its recent electoral defeat.
Former ministers and ex-MLAs Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan, M.C. Sampath, Kadambur C. Raju and N.R. Sivapathi formally joined TVK at the party headquarters in Chennai. The induction took place in the presence of TVK General Secretary N. Anand and Election Campaign Management General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna.
The move is being seen as one of the most significant defections from the AIADMK since TVK came to power under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
The AIADMK has been struggling to regain momentum after its disappointing performance in the April Assembly elections. Internal differences and growing dissatisfaction among party members have fuelled a series of defections, raising concerns about the party’s organisational strength.
Signs of unrest first surfaced when 25 AIADMK legislators broke ranks and backed the government during a confidence motion in the Assembly. Although the dissident group later reconciled with party leadership, the episode highlighted deep-rooted divisions within the organisation.
In the weeks that followed, several leaders and party workers moved to TVK. Earlier, four rebel MLAs resigned from the AIADMK and joined the ruling party, triggering speculation about further exits.
The latest entrants to TVK were among several AIADMK leaders who failed to secure victories in the recent elections. Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan lost from Udumalpet, M.C. Sampath finished third in Cuddalore, while Kadambur C. Raju was defeated in Kovilpatti.
The defections come shortly after a large-scale induction drive on May 29, when more than 300 AIADMK members joined TVK at its Panaiyur headquarters. The group included former ministers Vellamandi Natarajan and Anandan, as well as former legislators Natraj and Sadhan Prabhakar.
Political analysts believe the steady flow of AIADMK leaders into TVK reflects the ruling party’s expanding political footprint while posing a major challenge for the opposition as it attempts to reorganise and strengthen its base.
One of the earliest prominent AIADMK figures to join Vijay’s camp was veteran leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, who switched sides before the elections and later emerged as an influential member of the TVK government.