Senior AIADMK Leader Joins DMK Ahead of TN Elections

• Anwhar Raajhaa, a senior AIADMK leader and former minister, joined the ruling DMK.
• He attributed his switch to discomfort over AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, which he called a “negative force.”
• Raajhaa accused the BJP of seeking to “destroy” the AIADMK and undermine its leadership.

GG News Bureau
Chennai, 21st July: In a key political development leading up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, veteran AIADMK leader and former Minister Anwhar Raajhaa today formally joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He made the switch in the presence of Chief Minister and party president MK Stalin at the DMK headquarters in Chennai.

Raajhaa’s decision to defect comes amidst growing unease within the AIADMK regarding its rekindled alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After joining the DMK, Raajhaa launched a scathing attack on both the AIADMK leadership and the BJP, labeling the national party a “negative force” in Tamil Nadu. He stated, “AIADMK is drifting away. The party is now trapped in the BJP’s hands.”

Accusing the BJP of undermining its own ally, Raajhaa further claimed, “Not once did Amit Shah mention EPS by name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. BJP’s aim is not to win elections in Tamil Nadu, but to destroy the AIADMK and fight the DMK.” Citing similar political maneuvers allegedly “orchestrated by the BJP” in West Bengal and Karnataka, he expressed confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu would never accept the BJP, describing it as a party that seeks to divide and dominate rather than govern.

Anwhar Raajhaa is a seasoned AIADMK leader, having served as Labour Minister under former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa between 2001 and 2006. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha from the Ramanathapuram constituency in the 2014 general elections.

His departure is particularly notable as it occurs at a time when the BJP has been advocating for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu should the NDA secure a victory in 2026. However, Raajhaa had recently asserted in an interview that “AIADMK will form its own government with a clear majority. BJP’s ambitions to take root in Tamil Nadu will never succeed.”

AIADMK sources indicate that party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is expected to expel Raajhaa imminently. This would mark Raajhaa’s second expulsion from the party; he was previously removed in 2021 for advocating for V.K. Sasikala’s reinduction, only to be readmitted two years later.

The BJP has yet to respond to the sharp criticism leveled by Raajhaa. Meanwhile, an AIADMK leader downplayed the impact of his exit, stating, “Raja’s exit will make no difference to the party. Already only his body was here, his soul was there (DMK).”