AIADMK faces fresh setback as senior leaders join TVK

Synopsis

Prominent AIADMK figures, including former ministers C Vijayabaskar and MR Vijayabhaskar, have defected to Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph's TVK, citing disillusionment with the current AIADMK leadership. TVK chief KA Sengottaiyan accused the AIADMK of betraying its workers by considering an alliance with the DMK. Meanwhile, DMK's Kanimozhi alluded to a 'washing machine' in Tamil Nadu capable of cleansing alleged corruption, referencing the Gutka scam.

Chennai: The exodus of influential AIADMK leaders continued on Thursday with former health minister C Vijayabaskar, former transport minister MR Vijayabhaskar and several other senior functionaries and thousands of cadre joining chief minister C Vijay Joseph's TVK, stirring more trouble for the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led Dravidian party.

Welcoming them into the party, TVK chief coordinator KA Sengottaiyan said they had come to the right party after becoming disillusioned with the present AIADMK leadership that was functioning like a 'corporate firm' instead of being a political organisation. Sengottaiyan had quit AIADMK in November 2025 after he was expelled by Palaniswami and became a key figure in TVK's dramatic rise. "It is AIADMK leadership that betrayed the party workers by trying to align with arch rival DMK. The fountainhead of betrayal is there," Sengottaiyan said.

DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi hit out at their Dravidian rival on X. "I heard that a 'washing machine' of the kind the BJP used to employ in the North has now arrived in Tamil Nadu too. They say this new Tamil Nadu model machine can even wash away gutka stains... is it true?" The DMK MP was taking a jibe at C Vijayabaskar on his alleged involvement in the Gutka scam case which was transferred to the Special Court for criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs, from the CBI.

This also comes at a time when allegations of horse trading are coming to the fore. AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP, IS Inbadurai said a complaint has been filed with the Election Commission stating that Tamil Nadu is facing a very serious situation as horse-trading is going on.