BJP’s Vijayadharani, ex-AIADMK Minister K.T. Pachaimal join TVK

Former MLA S. Vijayadharani from the BJP, former AIADMK Minister K.T. Pachaimal, former AIADMK MPs N. Balaganga, R. Vanaroja, A. Elavarasan have joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday (June 13, 2026).

The induction took place in the presence of TVK general secretary Bussy N. Anand, alongside Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and Rajmohan at the party’s headquarters in Panaiyur near Chennai. 

For S. Vijayadharani, this marks her second major political shift in just over two years. A leader from Kanyakumari district, she built her career with the Indian National Congress, winning the Vilavancode Assembly constituency for three consecutive times in 2011, 2016, and 2021. During her stint with the Congress, she also held influential national and State-level positions, serving as the general secretary of the All India Mahila Congress and president of the Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress.

In February 2024, Ms. Vijayadharani joined the BJP. However, in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, she finished a distant third in her stronghold of Vilavancode. Now, she has switched to TVK along with her local supporters.

K.T. Pachaimal who was formerly with the AIADMK, had served as the Minister for Forests in the Cabinet headed by J. Jayalalithaa. N. Balaganga, who was a district secretary in the AIADMK, had also served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Other former AIADMK MPs who joined the TVK on Saturday include R. Vanaroja and A. Elavarasan.

Besides them, former office-bearers of various other parties also joined TVK.