In yet another setback to the AMMK, Thanga Tamilselvan who recently fell out with TTV Dhinakaran joined the DMK on Friday. Tamilselvan, the propaganda secretary of the AMMK had contested from Theni in the recent Lok Sabha election but was finished third behind Congress-leader EVKS Elangovan, the runner up.
Tamilselvan told reporters that he was drawn to the DMK because of the leadership quality of M K Stalin, the party chief. “The AIADMK is controlled by the BJP and I would not join that party at the expense of my self-respect. A party controlled by a single leader alone could take it formward and provide effective leadership. After the death of Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK has fallen into the hands of multiple leaders and no one is in a position to take any firm decision,” said Tamilselvan.
Till Thursday, there were reports that Tamilselvan may join the AIADMK. But the AIADMK district unit of Theni, his hometown, unanimously passed a resolution asking the party leadership not to re-admit him into the party. It is said that the resolution was passed at the instance of deputy chief minister O Panneerselvan with whom Tamilselvan was having a running feud dating back to 2016. Had Tamilselvan rejoined the AIADMK, it would have helped chief minister Palaniswamy to checkmate Panneerselvam in Theni. MK Stalin, president, DMK, welcomed Tamilselvan to the DMK and gave him the primary membership in the party. The entry of Tamilselvan into the DMK is seen as a major boost to the party which is yet to make any inroads in Theni district since the exit of MGR from the DMK in 1972. Tamilselvan also disclosed that more cadre would follow him into the DMK. He is the second leader to join the DMK after Senthil Balaji who too had ditched Dhinakaran and joined the DMK.