Big Boost For Vijay: 4 Ex-AIADMK Ministers, 6 Former MLAs Join TVK

Last Updated:June 07, 2026, 07:46 IST

Amid deepening crisis, AIADMK suffers fresh blow as four former ministers, ex MLAs and over 300 cadres quit and join ruling TVK in Chennai, praising CM C Joseph Vijay

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 in Chennai 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 Anand and General Secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna.

Over 300 members from AIADMK officially joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday at the party headquarters in Panaiyur near Chennai, citing inability to serve the public properly under AIADMK leadership.

Among those who joined the ruling were former AIADMK Minister Vellamandi Natarajan, Anna Trade Union Federation State Secretary Kamalakkannan, former AIADMK MLA from Mylapore Natraj, former AIADMK Minister Anandan, former Paramakudi AIADMK MLA Sadhan Prabhakar, Tirupathur City Secretary D T Kumar, and over 300 others.

The induction took place in the presence of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister N Anand, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sengottaiyan, and Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

After joining TVK, Former Minister and senior AIADMK leader Udumalai Radhakrishnan recalled the leadership of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, he said AIADMK functionaries maintained strict discipline during her tenure and that her demise was a major setback for the party.

Radhakrishnan also stated that although they had remained in AIADMK for the past five years, they were unable to effectively serve the public and had been functioning under difficult circumstances.

He said they see the ideals of M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa reflected in the leadership of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, adding that the respect and recognition they received in TVK motivated their decision to join the party.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, during his address, equated CM Vijay’s cabinet to former CM MGR and J Jayalalithaa’s cabinets, stating that the TVK is carrying their legacy forward.

“We had already said that C Joseph Vijay would become Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of leaders honestly created by the people, such as Anna, MGR, and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. Today, he is the Chief Minister. AIADMK members mocked Sengottaiyan for sitting with leaders from smaller parties. But he served as a minister in MGR’s cabinet, Kumar served in Amma’s cabinet, and now both are ministers in the leader Joseph Vijay’s cabinet as well," he said.

After the April 23 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, 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.

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Devanshe PandeySenior Sub-Editor

Devanshe Pandey is a journalist with over six years of experience decoding the fast-moving worlds of politics and global affairs. Currently on the political and international desk at CNN-News18, she b...Read More

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