In a significant political development, Vellamandi Natarajan, a former Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister and senior AIADMK leader, has switched allegiance to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Natarajan, a key figure from Tiruchi with a long-standing association with AIADMK, was known for his grassroots work in central Tamil Nadu.
Having been elected from the Tiruchi East Assembly constituency in 2016 and later serving as the Tourism Minister under the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s government, Natarajan’s political journey has seen shifts. Initially siding with O. Panneerselvam post-Jayalalithaa’s demise, he later returned to the AIADMK fold led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Despite his return, internal turmoil within AIADMK has prompted Natarajan to make the move towards TVK. Following a meeting with TVK’s general secretary N. Anand, Natarajan officially joined the ruling party, citing AIADMK’s failure to overcome internal rifts and electoral setbacks post-Jayalalithaa’s era.
Expressing admiration for TVK’s leadership and its commitment to the ideological legacy of prominent leaders like Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran, and Jayalalithaa, Natarajan highlighted the influence behind his decision to align with the ruling camp. This move by Natarajan comes amidst a politically charged environment, with AIADMK already grappling with recent defections to TVK, triggering demands for investigations into alleged inducements and horse-trading in Tamil Nadu politics.
