Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), July 2 (IANS) In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, former AIADMK ministers Dr C. Vijayabaskar and M.R. Vijayabaskar formally joined the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) at a grand induction ceremony held at a private hotel in Mahabalipuram near Chennai on Thursday.

Speaking after joining the party, former minister M.R. Vijayabaskar expressed happiness over his decision and praised the leadership of TVK.

“I am very happy to have joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam today. The government formed by Thalapathy Vijay is functioning as a government for the people,” he said.

Referring to the party’s future programmes, he announced that Chief Minister Vijay would visit Karur on July 10.

“Amid various political developments, the Chief Minister will be visiting Karur on the 10th. We are making grand arrangements, and a major induction event will also be held in Karur district,” he said.

On the Karur case, M.R. Vijayabaskar said the investigation should be allowed to take its course.

“We do not want to blame anyone. The Karur case is under CBI investigation, and the truth will definitely come out,” he said.

Rejecting allegations that the induction was the result of political inducements, he asserted that there had been no horse-trading.

“There is no horse-trading or anything of that sort. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLAs won without spending even a single paisa. But now, some people are trying to bring down this government through horse-trading,” he alleged.

TVK Thanjavur constituency MLA Vijay Saravanan said the political landscape in the Cauvery Delta region was undergoing a significant shift.

“The mindset of voters in the Delta districts has changed. Apart from this, two more MLAs have joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The narrative that the Delta is a DMK fortress is a false one that has been created. Compared to the vote share the DMK secured in the past, it has declined significantly. They won only by very narrow margins, and that too with the support of their alliance partners,” he said.

Claiming that dissatisfaction against the AIADMK was widespread in the Delta districts, Saravanan said the latest inductions would strengthen TVK’s organisational base ahead of the Assembly elections.

“As far as the Delta districts are concerned, there is huge dissatisfaction within the AIADMK. These leaders joining the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam will strengthen the party’s organisational structure, and by the time of the Assembly election, these inductions will greatly strengthen our hands,” he said.

He also dismissed allegations of inducements and claimed that those joining TVK had done so voluntarily.

“No promises were made, and there was no horse-trading. They have joined us after giving up the positions that the people had entrusted them with. It is the DMK that is bargaining with people. In fact, they even tried to bargain with me. Chief Minister Vijay has with him a team that cannot be bought at any price,” Saravanan alleged.

–IANS

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