The induction of former ministers, ex-MLAs and party functionaries is being projected by TVK as a sign of its growing organisational reach across Tamil Nadu.
Senior AIADMK leaders and hundreds of cadres joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam at the party headquarters in Panaiyur near Chennai on Thursday. | ANI
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday welcomed more than 300 leaders and members from the AIADMK at its headquarters in Panaiyur near Chennai, with party leaders using the occasion to project confidence about the party’s growth and future political prospects in Tamil Nadu.
Among those who joined the Vijay-led party were former AIADMK minister Vellamandi Natarajan, Tirupathur city secretary DT Kumar, former Paramakudi MLA Sadhan Prabhakar, Anna Trade Union Federation state secretary Kamalakkannan, former minister Anandan, former Mylapore MLA Natraj, and several other functionaries and cadres.
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The development comes amid continuing political churn in Tamil Nadu, where TVK has been attempting to expand its organisational base and attract leaders from rival parties. Senior TVK leaders claimed the latest induction reflected growing support for the party among sections of AIADMK workers dissatisfied with the direction of their former organisation.
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The induction programme was attended by TVK general secretary N Anand, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sengottaiyan.
Addressing party workers, Sengottaiyan hailed TVK’s rise, describing it as a movement that had achieved significant success within a short period. He said the people of Tamil Nadu had accepted a leadership capable of providing clean governance and asserted that party founder Vijay would continue to remain the state’s leader in the years ahead.
Drawing on his political experience, Sengottaiyan said he had worked alongside former Chief Ministers M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa and expressed confidence in TVK’s future.
Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna used the occasion to defend TVK’s rapid emergence in state politics and criticised both the DMK and the AIADMK.
He said questions were being raised about what TVK had achieved in a short period, but argued that the party had succeeded in bringing together several political forces. Arjuna also claimed that the current administration under Vijay had ushered in a corruption-free system and brought administrative changes aimed at benefiting the public.
The minister further alleged that decisions taken within the AIADMK after electoral setbacks had led to growing dissatisfaction among party workers. According to him, many cadres who remained emotionally attached to the legacy of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had gradually begun moving towards TVK.
Arjuna denied allegations that TVK had lured legislators or party workers from other organisations and said those joining the party were being welcomed as members of one family.
He also claimed that more AIADMK functionaries were likely to join TVK in the coming weeks and urged the party leadership to organise regular membership drives.
Speaking at the event, Rural Development Minister N Anand assured the newly inducted members that they would receive respect and opportunities within the organisation.
He said TVK’s rise was driven by the popularity and leadership of Vijay and credited party workers for helping build the movement. Anand also expressed confidence about the party’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections and said TVK would continue to function without corruption.
He added that organisational responsibilities for many of the new entrants would be announced in due course.
The induction programme marked one of the largest recent entries of AIADMK leaders and cadres into TVK, with party leaders projecting it as evidence of the organisation’s growing influence in Tamil Nadu politics.
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