Those who joined DMK will become zero, says Jayakumar

"Today Tamilselvan is a hero but those who joined the DMK will soon be a zero," he said emphasising that media was giving undue importance to AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and Tamilselvan.

Welcoming the DMK for giving up the no-confidence motion against Assembly speaker P Dhanapal, Jayakumar said, “DMK leader Stalin has finally agreed that the AIADMK has the majority in the house.”

Meanwhile, the AMMK also downplayed the defection of former Andipatti MLA. “The defection of secondary level leaders and functionaries from a party is common in TN politics, but this will not affect the prospects of our party. AMMK will thrive as there is a strong leadership led by Dhinakaran,” AMMK leader P Vettrivel commented on Tamilselvan.

“The Theni based politician lost his mind and was manipulated by vested interests. The DMK should be careful with the former MLA as he is known for mudslinging and cheap politics against the party leadership,” said AMMK leader and V K Sasikala’s confidante Pughazenthi. For us, Tamilselvan is a closed chapter and we wish him good luck, Pughazenthi added. The AMMK cadres in Theni and Dindigul kick-started campaign in social media and poster campaign targeting the rebel Tamilselvan. Posters screamed Thanga Tamilselvan as “traitor” with slogans “You are not gold but scrap that has joined the hands of our rivals.”

Meanwhile, a few AMMK functionaries from Vellore on Friday called on CM Palaniswami and said more functionaries would return to the parent AIADMK. The AIADMK is also in touch with the defected AMMK functionaries in Theni and Madurai to strengthen the party by enrolling new cadres.

Like in many other AMMK district units across the state, the defeat of the party in the recently concluded elections has caused severe disappointment in Vellore also and the cadre are planning to shift to other parties. Further, the switch over of Thanga Tamilselvan to DMK on Friday has given the Vellore AMMK cadre fresh hopes and they are planning to join Stalin’s camp. Senior functionaries of the AMMK in Vellore district unit, sitting Vellore DMK MLA P Karthikeyan, ex-MLA of Anaicut and AMMK Vellore central district secretary M Kalaiarasu and AMMK organising secretary C Gnanasekaran, are reportedly waiting for dates from Stalin to join the DMK.