In a development that rattled the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), its Kallakurichi MLA, A. Prabhu switched loyalties to the camp led by dissident leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Friday.
Mr. Prabhu is the first AIADMK legislator to extend support to Mr. Dhinakaran since last year's disqualification of 18 MLAs supporting the latter. He met Mr. Dhinakaran at his residence here on Friday and presented him a bouquet. The development came ahead of the dissident leader's proposed tour of Villupuram district within which Kallakurichi constituency falls.
A leader close to Mr. Dhinakaran said, “With the verdict of the Madras High Court on the legality of the Assembly Speaker's decision to disqualify the 18 MLAs expected very soon, more are likely to join us."
The MLAs of Aranthangi and Vriddhachalam are already supporting Mr. Dhinakaran and so is S. Karunaas of Mukkolathor Pulippadai, who won on an AIADMK ticket.
