Tamil Nadu Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated on Saturday that 90% of AIADMK cadres are prepared to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay. He made the remarks at an event held at TVK's headquarters in Panaiyur, near Chennai, where thousands of cadres and functionaries from other parties formally joined TVK.
Event highlights
The gathering was attended by TVK General Secretary N. Anand, Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and senior ministers including K.A. Sengottaiyan. Prominent personalities who switched to TVK included former AIADMK minister Gomathi Srinivasan, movie director and former AIADMK functionary R.V. Udhayakumar, and actor Mansoor Ali Khan. Additionally, TVK MLA from Cumbum, P.L.A. Jagannath Mishra, dissolved his party, Namathu Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, and merged it with TVK.
Claim of AIADMK cadre shift
Addressing the gathering, Aadhav Arjuna asserted that the influx of AIADMK cadres would enable TVK to win almost all seats in upcoming local body elections. “Because AIADMK attempted to join hands with DMK to form a government, 90% of AIADMK cadres are ready to join TVK. The late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran’s AIADMK and TVK now are the same. We will join together and face bypolls and local body elections. We will set a record of winning 99% of local body seats — something no other party has ever achieved,” he said. “We will be the biggest force in Tamil Nadu,” he added.
TVK's promise of merit-based posts
The PWD minister emphasized that TVK leadership would honor every party member based on their work. “TVK is not a party that will do business with its posts. Our party leader will give posts according to each person’s work,” he said. N. Anand added, “Many who join the party don’t expect posts. Even some former MLAs who have joined the party have said they don’t need posts and just want to work under our Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.”
