Chennai, 06 June (H.S.)In a significant setback for the AIADMK, four of its former ministers and senior leaders joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday, underlining the continuing political turbulence within the principal opposition party following its Assembly election defeat.

Former ministers and ex-MLAs Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan, M.C. Sampath, Kadambur C. Raju and N.R. Sivapathi were formally inducted into TVK at the party's headquarters in Chennai. They joined the party in the presence of TVK General Secretary N. Anand and General Secretary for Election Campaign Management Aadhav Arjuna.

The latest defections are among the most prominent since the formation of the C. Joseph Vijay-led government and are expected to further intensify concerns within the AIADMK over its ability to retain senior leaders and cadres.

The AIADMK has been facing internal challenges ever since its disappointing performance in the April 23 Assembly elections. Political uncertainty within the party became evident when a group of 25 AIADMK MLAs defied the party whip and voted in support of a confidence motion moved by the Vijay government in the Assembly.

Although the rebel faction later reconciled with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the party has continued to witness a steady stream of defections. Four rebel legislators had earlier resigned from the AIADMK and joined TVK, a move that fuelled speculation of further exits from the opposition ranks.

Several district-level office-bearers, former legislators and grassroots workers have since crossed over to the ruling party.

The four leaders who joined TVK on Saturday were among those who suffered defeats in the recent Assembly elections. Udumalai Radhakrishnan lost from Udumalpet, M.C. Sampath finished third in Cuddalore, while Kadambur Raju was defeated in Kovilpatti.

The development follows a similar event on May 29, when more than 300 AIADMK members joined TVK at its Panaiyur headquarters. The group included former ministers Vellamandi Natarajan and Anandan, along with several former legislators and party functionaries.

Political observers view the continued migration of AIADMK leaders to TVK as a sign of the ruling party's growing influence and a major challenge for the opposition as it seeks to rebuild its organisation and political base after the electoral setback.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman