In a political development in Tamil Nadu, several senior leaders of AIADMK, including former ministers C. Vijayabaskar, M. R. Vijayabaskar, and M. S. M. Anandan, are set to join the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) at a major event in Mamallapuram today. The event, expected to witness a large turnout, will also see hundreds of supporters from Pudukkottai and Karur districts arriving in buses and other vehicles to mark their allegiance to the new political formation.
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Speaking to media ahead of the merger, former Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said the decision was not taken in haste. He stated that it followed extensive consultations with his supporters, district office-bearers, and constituents from the Viralimalai Assembly segment, who collectively expressed a desire for political change.
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Vijayabaskar attributed his exit from the AIADMK to what he described as โwrong decisionsโ taken by the current party leadership. Echoing similar sentiments, former Transport Minister M. R. Vijayabaskar is also expected to formally join the TVK along with his supporters from Karur.
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Former minister M. S. M. Anandan, who ended his 45-year-long association with the AIADMK, strongly criticised the partyโs leadership under Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He alleged that the party had become โself-centredโ and was no longer attentive to the concerns and contributions of its grassroots workers.
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Expressing confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Anandan, said he believes the TVK holds the future of Tamil Nadu politics and has the potential to deliver effective governance over the next five years.
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Rejecting allegations of โhorse-trading,โ Anandan asserted that the decision to join TVK was made voluntarily, driven by ideological alignment rather than any external pressure or inducement.
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In addition to the former ministers, several other leaders are set to join the party, including Valarmathi from Tiruchirappalli and district secretaries P. K. Vairamuthu, Ilambai Tamilselvan, Orathanadu Sekar, and Trichy Srinivasan.
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The mass induction of leaders and cadres is expected to further strengthen the TVKโs political base, while posing a fresh challenge to the AIADMK in the stateโs evolving political landscape.
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