Four former AIADMK ministers join TVK amid fresh wave of defections

New allies with TVK executives in Panaiyur, Chennai suburb | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The exodus of prominent regional faces from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) continued on Saturday (June 6, 2026), with four former ministers — MC Sampath, NR Sivapathi, Kadambur C. Raju and Udumalai K. Radhakrishan crossing over to the ruu party.

They joined TVK at its headquarters in Panaiyur, a suburb of Chennai, in the presence of party general secretary and minister for rural development and water resources N. Anand and several other ministers.

Apart from Mr. Sivapathi, the other three former ministers who joined the TVK contested and lost the 2026 assembly elections. Mr. Sivapathi won the Thottiyam Assembly segment in the 1991 elections and the Musiri Assembly constituency in 2011. He also served as Education Minister. Mr. Sampath, who represented Nellikuppam assembly segment from 2001 to 2006 and Cuddalore assembly segment from 2011 to 2021, served as a minister handling various portfolios.

Mr. Raju has won the Kovilpatti assembly segment three times in a row since 2011. He also served as Minister for Information and Publicity from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Radhakrishnan won the Udumalaipettai assembly segment in the 2016 and 2021 elections and also served as a minister. Earlier, he served as the Chairman of Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable Television (TACTV).

Leaders represent different regions

These former ministers represent four different zones of the state. Mr. Sampath is from Cuddalore District (North), Mr. Sivapathi is from Tiruchi District (Central), Mr. Raju is from Thoothukudi District (South) and Mr. Radhakrishnan is from Tiruppur District (West). Their entry into TVK is likely to strengthen the ruling party in the respective zones.

Several former district secretaries and former AIADMK MLAs, including A. Govindasamy (Pappireddipatti), M. Murugan (Mudukulathur), V. Panneerselvam (Kalasapakkam), VKR Srinivasan (Arcot) and Sadhan Prabhakar (Paramakudi) joined the TVK. Former AIADMK MP from Tenkasi M. Vasanthi and former DMK MLA from T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi have also joined the party.

The latest defection comes with four AIADMK MLAs – Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam), S. Jayakumar (Perundurai), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram) and Esaki Subaya (Ambasamudram) – resigning their Assembly membership and joining the TVK within days of their election to the Assembly. Former AIADMK minister Vellamandi N. Natarajan and former Mylapore MLA R. Natraj also joined the TVK a few days ago.

‘Many great opportunities’

Reacting to the defection, AIADMK Information Technology (IT) Secretary Raj Satyen on Saturday expressed hope that the ongoing events would pave the way for providing “many great opportunities” to the youth in the parent body.

“This is the right time to build #NexGenAIADMK!” Mr. Satyen stated on his social media link. Alluding to the defection, marking his post on the official hands of the party and its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he added: “The way is opening. Our leadership will show (us) the way.”

(With inputs from T. Ramakrishnan)

Published – June 6, 2026 2:15 PM IST