Chennai: Once an Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) strongman and party's propaganda secretary Thanga Tamilselvan, has now joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday (June 28) with a large contingent of his followers from his native Theni, Tamil Nadu.

A picture is now doing the rounds wherein one can see DMK chief MK Stalin welcoming Tamilselvan into the party with a bouquet of flowers. Rumours were doing the rounds that Tamilselvan would return to the AIADMK, a party that stemmed his political career.

However, while addressing reporters in Madurai, Tamilselvan had categorically denied claims of joining any party. However, on Friday, Tamilselvan was seen as a part of the DMK. So much so, that even his Twitter page now bears the essence of MK Stalin and the DMK.

Talks with the AIADMK allegedly yielded no results as deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam and family were not on good terms with Thanga Tamilselvan. Both of them belong to the Theni constituency.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan spoke to MyNation and said that the party has welcomed him with open arms. “People are now returning to the DMK. Thanga Tamilselvan would be a great asset to the party,” stated A Saravanan.

Tamilselvan, who is from the Theni constituency, is believed to boost the DMK’s prospects in the region. Speaking about Thanga Tamilselvan’s stronghold in Theni, Saravanan added, that he has distinguished himself as an MP, MLA and as a local strongman in the area.

“Good sense has prevailed over him and he has understood that DMK is the better party,” concluded Saravanan.

Former Andipatti MLA Tamilselvan’s relationship with the AMMK turned sour in recent months after the party failed miserably during the recently held poll.  While Tamilselvan blamed the party leadership for the poll debacle, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran in turn blamed Tamilselvan for the same.

An audio of Tamilselvan’s also took the internet by storm wherein one could hear him speak against Dhinakaran and the party. He further pointed out that the AMMK did not take into consideration the opinions of its leaders regarding important decisions.

Soon after, the AMMK was in a huddle and concluded that it was in the party’s interest to oust Tamilselvan.

CR Saraswathi, spokesperson of the AMMK said, “The real face of Thanga Tamilselvan is out there for all to see. It was TTV Dhinakaran and Chinna Amma (Sasikala) who recommended Tamilselvan to Amma (Jayalalithaa). But now he has been disloyal.”

Saraswathi further questioned Tamilselvan, “Today you quit the AMMK because of its failure, if the party you have joined has another failure, will you then quit that party as well?”

Saraswathi further alleged that the DMK was feeding off of the AMMK by roping their members and giving them “prestigious posts and positions”.

“Why is the DMK taking AMMK members? It is because they also know that the AMMK has good connections with the people,” stated CR Saraswathi. She further stated that the AMMK will continue to work and serve the people happily and that would ensure that their flock stayed together.

Incidentally, in the recently concluded by-elections, the DMK had ended up bagging the Andipatti seat and the Periyakulam Assembly seat that fall under the Theni Lok Sabha constituency.