Chennai, 6 June

In yet another setback for the AIADMK, which faces a severe internal crisis, the party's four former ministers and ex-MLAs have joined ruling TVK at its headquarters here on Saturday.

The AIADMK leaders who joined TVK include Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, M C Sampath, Kadambur C Raju and N R Sivapathi. All of them joined the ruling party in front of TVK General Secretary N Anand and General Secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna. Similarly, Ex-MP A Ilavarasan also joined TVK.

Seven former AIADMK MLAs -- Sundarraj, Rajamuthu, Manraj, Rajavarman Panneerselvam, M. Murugan and N Siva -- have also joined TVK. Similarly, two former DMK MLAs -- P Kamaraj and M S Shanmugam -- have also joined the ruling party.

TVK sources further said that more than 2,500 individuals, including office bearers at the state, district, town, ward, block-units and different wings of AIADMK and DMK, joined TVK as members.

More than 300 AIADMK members joined TVK and extended support to the ruling party.

After the 23 April poll debacle, the AIADMK is facing a series of setbacks. First, a rebel group of 25 MLAs supported a motion of confidence moved by CM C Joseph Vijay on the floor of the Assembly on May 13, violating the party whip to vote against the motion.

Four of those rebel MLAs resigned and joined TVK before the rebel group patched up with General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami. Since then, several AIADMK functionaries have quit their party to join TVK.

The four former ministers and seven former MLAs quitting AIADMK and joining TVK is the latest development.

Udumalai Radhakrishnan unsuccessfully contested in the Udumalpet constituency. Similarly, Sampath could only take third place in the Cuddalore Assembly constituency. Likewise, Kadambur Raju has also lost in the Kovilpatti constituency.

On 29 May, more than 300 AIADMK members joined TVK at its Panaiyur headquarters in Chennai. The defectors included former AIADMK Ministers Vellamandi Natarajan and Anandan, as well as former MLAs Natraj and Sadhan Prabhakar.

KA Sengottaiyan was the first key leader to leave AIADMK to join TVK. He stood firmly by Vijay's side well before the election.

Speaking on the occasion of former ministers and former MLAs from AIADMK joining the party, TVK General Secretary Anand assured the newly inducted members that his party would give the required respect to all of them. He also assured that after consulting with TVK senior functionaries, especially with the party district secretaries, appropriate posts will be given to the new entrants. Anand said that the Chief Minister also clearly told TVK party cadres to give due respect to the persons who join the party.

Anand also requested all the newly joined members to cooperate for the upcoming elections to secure TVK's victory.

Welcoming the new cadres, Aadhav Arjuna also said, "We are all one family. This party doesn't have 'competition and jealousy' among the members. I can see the whole AIADMK here". He also alleged that DMK president M K Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi Stalin and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tried their level best to ensure that Vijay should not become chief minister.

After joining TVK, former AIADMK minister Udumalai Radhakrishnan said, "We have no clue in the party for the last nine years. When Jayalalithaa was there, the AIADMK was a disciplined and organised. Now, TVK also functioning as MGR and Jayalalithaa. "We have also been under severe stress during the last few years. We require only respect from TVK. We are not for any posts".

Radhakrishnan also claimed that many more AIADMK party functionaries are interested in joining TVK. Expressing similar views, Kadambur Raju also assured that the newly joined members will cooperate with TVK to ensure victory in all the elections.