AIADMK setback continues: P Benjamin joins DMK along with his supporters in Chennai

NEW DELHI: Former AIADMK curate P Benjamin has joined the DMK on with his supporters, successful a important governmental displacement that adds to the continuing exodus of leaders from the absorption enactment successful Tamil Nadu.Benjamin joined the ruling DMK successful the beingness of enactment president and main curate MK Stalin astatine the enactment office Anna Arivalayam successful Chennai connected Wednesday.He was accompanied by respective AIADMK office-bearers, including Tiruvallur Central Party District Women's Wing caput Yamini Ilayaraja, territory students' helping caput Dinesh and different functionaries who besides switched sides.Senior DMK leaders TR Baalu, A Raja and RS Bharathi were contiguous astatine the event.Benjamin, a erstwhile lawman politician of the Chennai Corporation, had served arsenic a curate successful the AIADMK governments led by J Jayalalithaa and aboriginal Edappadi K Palaniswami. His departure comes amid a bid of defections from the enactment successful caller months.The AIADMK enactment has been dealing with interior challenges, including reported dissent among immoderate MLAs successful caller governmental developments, further weakening the party’s organisational strength.

Benjamin's exit follows a wider signifier of defections, with respective erstwhile AIADMK ministers, including MC Sampath, NR Sivapathi, Kadambur C Raju and Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, precocious joining the ruling TVK. Last month, erstwhile AIADMK MLA VNP Venkatraman besides joined the DMK successful Chennai.