In a significant political development prior to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ex-Minister and MP A Anwhar Raajhaa joined Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday in the presence of DMK President and CM MK Stalin at Chennai Anna Arivalayam.
AIADMK disqualified him from the party when he arrived at DMK HQ, Anna Arivalayam, on Monday.
This follows Raajhaa's persistent criticising of the AIADMK's joining hands with the BJP, which he feels would hurt the party's interests in Tamil Nadu.
He had raised his voice about the increasing influence of the BJP in Tamil Nadu politics and the ill effect it may have on the AIADMK. He insisted that the agenda of the BJP is to eliminate the AIADMK and then confront the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Anwhar Raajhaa, while briefing the media after joining DMK, Raajhaa noted that Union Minister Amit Shah mentioned the NDA coalition being in power but did not mention Edappadi Palaniswami as the CM face, which showed a possible split within the alliance.
Raajhaa condemned the AIADMK for drifting away from its very ideology and being run by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which he called a "negative force" in Tamil Nadu politics.
Also read: AIADMK to raise TN fishermen's plight in Parl Monsoon Session
"Union Minister Amit Shah has stated National Democratic Alliance would be the government. But in no corner of the state has Amit Shah not referred to Edappadi Palaniswami as CM candidature. Edappadi Palaniswami is campaigning for the last 10 days, but he cannot claim himself to be the AIADMK CM candidate. Edappadi Palaniswami continues to assert that he is the CM candidate, he is the CM candidate." BJP allies with AIADMK to annihilate the AIADMK. It has fallen into BJP's trap. AIADMK is going in the opposite direction of Anna's idealogue path. BJP is a negative influence in Tamil Nadu. People won't accept that. My only choice was DMK. So I joined DMK. For sure, Thalapathy (MK Stalin) would become CM again," Anwhar Raajhaa said.
Raajhaa was suspended from the AIADMK in 2021 for condemning the party's leadership and demanding the reinduction of VK Sasikala. He was, however, inducted again into the party in 2023 after tendering a formal apology to Palaniswami.
Raajhaa always opposed the alliance and said that it would damage the chances of the AIADMK and alienate the minority communities
Anwhar Raajhaa's quitting is at a time when the BJP has been demanding a coalition government in the state in case of an NDA victory in 2026. The DMK gained a senior leader of the opposition camp and might have consolidated its position before the 2026 Assembly polls.
The AIADMK is now confronted with new challenges in holding on to its minority support base, especially in the backdrop of the 2026 elections.
Follow us
