Former AIADMK Ministers and 15,000 Cadres to Join TVK in Mamallapuram

Several former AIADMK ministers, former MLAs, and thousands of party cadres are set to defect to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party on Thursday at 10:00 AM. TVK's Aadhav Arjuna will welcome the new members at a private hotel in Mamallapuram, Chennai, marking a major shift in the regional political landscape due to growing dissatisfaction with the AIADMK leadership.

The defecting group includes prominent former AIADMK ministers C Vijayabaskar, M R Vijayabhaskar, M S M Anandan, and S Valarmathi. In addition to the ministers, at least 15 former MLAs and hundreds of district functionaries are making the switch. The former ministers are also expected to meet with TVK chief C Joseph Vijay.

Among the key leaders joining TVK are former MLAs Ilambai R Tamilselvan, M Ramkumar, and S V Thirugnanasambandam. Tiruchuli AIADMK candidate MSR Rajavarman, who previously lost a legislative contest to DMK leader Thangam Thennarasu, is also among those expected to join the TVK during the morning event.

The mass defection represents a significant blow to the AIADMK, with key district units from Karur and Pudukottai moving en masse to the TVK. According to former health minister C Vijayabaskar, more than 15,000 cadres and functionaries from these two districts are leaving the AIADMK.

Expressing the frustration among the party rank and file, Vijayabaskar highlighted the scale of the transition. He stated that the level of dissatisfaction is evident from the fact that cadres are travelling nearly seven hours in more than 200 buses to reach Mamallapuram to join the TVK.

This development follows previous attempts by senior AIADMK leaders to steer the party's strategy. In December, Vijayabaskar, along with senior functionaries S P Velumani and P Thangamani, had urged AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to align with TVK ahead of the assembly election.