Ex-AIADMK ministers C Vijayabaskar, MR Vijayabaskar join TVK with 15,000 supporters
Synopsis
In one of Tamil Nadu's biggest political defections since the last Assembly elections, two former AIADMK ministers and around 15,000 supporters formally joined Chief Minister Vijay's TVK at Mamallapuram. With 208 union secretaries switching sides and hints of more Cauvery delta leaders to follow, the AIADMK's organisational base is facing a serious stress test.
Key Takeaways
Former AIADMK ministers Dr C.
Vijayabaskar and M.R.
Vijayabaskar joined TVK on 2 July at a ceremony in Mamallapuram .
Approximately 15,000 supporters accompanied them, arriving in nearly 200 buses and 600 cars from Karur , Pudukkottai , and other districts.
208 former AIADMK union secretaries also joined TVK at the same event.
Valarmathi and M.S.M.
Anandan and five former MLAs were among the other defectors.
Vijayabaskar called the event 'only the trailer,' signalling further defections from the Cauvery delta region are possible.
Two former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ministers, Dr C. Vijayabaskar and M.R. Vijayabaskar, formally joined the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday, 2 July, along with approximately 15,000 supporters at a grand induction ceremony held at a private hotel in Mamallapuram, near Chennai. The event marked one of the most significant organisational shifts in Tamil Nadu politics since the last Assembly elections.
How the Induction Unfolded
The ceremony was led by TVK General Secretary and Minister N. Anand, with Minister Adhav Arjuna also present to welcome the new entrants. Both former ministers were formally inducted by being presented with the party's traditional shawl. Supporters arrived in nearly 200 buses and around 600 cars from Karur, Pudukkottai, and several other districts, underscoring the scale of grassroots mobilisation behind the move.
Why They Left the AIADMK
Addressing the gathering, C. Vijayabaskar said the decision to part ways with the AIADMK followed extensive consultations with party workers and the people of Viralimalai and Pudukkottai. He revealed that he and several other leaders had repeatedly urged the AIADMK leadership to forge an electoral alliance with TVK — both before the Assembly elections and after — but those appeals went unheeded.
'We could not continue with a leadership that refused to listen to its own cadre and later attempted to align with the DMK, a political force that M.G. Ramachandran had strongly opposed. It was only natural for us to join Chief Minister Vijay's TVK, which has inspired confidence among the people of Tamil Nadu,' he said.
Scale of the Defection
Beyond the two former ministers, several other prominent AIADMK figures joined TVK at the same event. They included former ministers S. Valarmathi and M.S.M. Anandan, former MLAs Manraj, M. Ramkumar, Rajavarman, Sathan Prabhakar, and Thirugnanasambandam, as well as district secretaries P.K. Vairamuthu, Ilambai Tamilselvan, M. Sekar, and Srinivasan. The party also confirmed that 208 former AIADMK union secretaries joined TVK during the ceremony.
What Comes Next
C. Vijayabaskar described Thursday's induction as 'only the trailer,' hinting that many more leaders from the Cauvery delta region could follow if the TVK leadership gives its approval. He expressed confidence that the party would achieve a '100 per cent victory' in the coming elections. Party leaders characterised the large-scale joining as a significant boost to TVK's organisational strength ahead of future electoral contests. This comes amid a broader realignment in Tamil Nadu politics as the AIADMK continues to face internal pressure following its electoral setbacks.
Point of View
Invoking M.G. Ramachandran's legacy to delegitimise the current leadership. For TVK, the gains are real but carry a risk: absorbing large blocs of defectors from a rival party can dilute organisational discipline and invite factionalism. Whether Chief Minister Vijay's party can convert this numerical surge into durable electoral infrastructure will be the real test ahead of the next Assembly cycle.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are C. Vijayabaskar and M.R. Vijayabaskar?
Both are former ministers who served under the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu. They formally joined the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on 2 July at a ceremony in Mamallapuram, citing the AIADMK leadership's failure to heed cadre demands and its reported overtures toward the DMK.
Why did the former AIADMK ministers join TVK?
C. Vijayabaskar stated that he and other leaders had repeatedly urged the AIADMK to ally with TVK before and after the Assembly elections, but were ignored. He also cited the AIADMK leadership's reported attempts to align with the DMK — a move he described as contrary to the legacy of party founder M.G. Ramachandran — as a key reason for the switch.
How significant is the defection in scale?
It is one of the largest single-event defections in Tamil Nadu since the last Assembly elections. Around 15,000 supporters, 208 former AIADMK union secretaries, two former ministers, five former MLAs, and multiple district secretaries joined TVK at the Mamallapuram ceremony.
Who else joined TVK at the Mamallapuram event?
Former ministers S. Valarmathi and M.S.M. Anandan, former MLAs Manraj, M. Ramkumar, Rajavarman, Sathan Prabhakar, and Thirugnanasambandam, and district secretaries P.K. Vairamuthu, Ilambai Tamilselvan, M. Sekar, and Srinivasan also joined TVK at the ceremony.
Are more AIADMK leaders expected to join TVK?
C. Vijayabaskar described Thursday's induction as 'only the trailer,' indicating that more leaders from the Cauvery delta region could join TVK pending approval from the party leadership. No official confirmation of further defections has been issued.
