Vaithilingam Switches to DMK as AMMK Realigns with NDA Ahead of Tamil Nadu Polls

Tamil Nadu, Jan 21 : In a major pre election shake up in Tamil Nadu, R Vaithilingam, former AIADMK minister and loyalist of ousted leader O Panneerselvam, on Wednesday quit the OPS faction to join the ruling DMK. The move comes alongside TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) returning to the NDA fold, months after severing ties with the alliance.

Vaithilingam, a four time MLA from Orathanadu in Thanjavur district, resigned his legislative post before formally joining the DMK at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin. Speaking to reporters, Vaithilingam cited his inability to remain part of the AIADMK-led front under Edappadi K Palaniswami and praised Stalin’s leadership and people centric governance. He said the formal joining ceremony will be held in Thanjavur in the coming days.

Vaithilingam becomes the third prominent AIADMK leader to defect to DMK, following former Minister Anwar Raaja and legal wing leader P Manoj Pandian. Another expelled AIADMK stalwart, K A Sengottaiyan, joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party launched by actor-politician Vijay.

Meanwhile, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran confirmed the party’s return to the NDA, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Tamil Nadu poll in-charge Piyush Goyal. Dhinakaran emphasized that the decision was aimed at reviving the “golden era of Jayalalithaa” and strengthening the NDA front in the upcoming assembly elections. His reentry follows meetings with senior BJP leaders in New Delhi and Tamil Nadu, including discussions with AIADMK leadership on seat-sharing arrangements.

The return of AMMK is expected to bolster NDA prospects, particularly in southern districts where Dhinakaran holds strong support among the Muthuraj, Nadar, and Thevar communities. With PMK also back in the NDA fold, speculation is rife that O Panneerselvam may reconsider his alignment with the saffron led front, potentially further consolidating the alliance ahead of the polls.