Former Minister Vellamandi N.Natarajan, an associate of former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam, rejoined the AIADMK on Friday.
Mr.Natarajan, who had been part of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Workers’ Rights Retrieval Kazhagam led by Mr.Panneerselvam, returned to the AIADMK fold on Friday evening after the former Chief Minister joined the DMK earlier in the day.
“I called on the party general secretary Edappadi K.Palaniswami and rejoined the party; he accepted me with affection,” Mr.Natarajan told The Hindu over phone.
Mr.Natarajan, 75, who held the Tourism portfolio after being elected from the Tiruchi East Assembly constituency in 2016, said Mr.Panneerselvam’s decision to join the DMK was unacceptable to him.
“On coming to know of his sudden decision, I called Mr.Panneerselvam and told him I would not be able to join him and shall go my individual way. In a democracy, Mr.Panneerselvam is free to join any party he wished. But I had been in the AIADMK since 1972 and was shaped by former Chief Ministers M.G.Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Hence I wish to remain in the AIADMK,” he said.
