COIMBATORE: Two AIADMK former MLAs from Salem and Karur districts joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the presence of KA Sengottaiyan on Sunday.

‘Palpakki’ C Krishnan (78), a former MLA from the Omalur constituency in Salem, along with his son K Ramachandran, called on the TVK chief coordinator at his residence in Gobichettipalayam, Erode, and joined his party.

He was with AIADMK since the time of party founder MGR. Krishnan was first elected as an MLA from Omalur assembly constituency in 1989, contesting on the rooster symbol under Jayalalithaa's faction. He won in 1991 and 2011. Before joining TVK, he resigned from the post of secretary for MGR Mandram in the Salem suburban district.

“As I failed to get due recognition in AIADMK, I decided to quit and join TVK,” he said. Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami stripped him of the party’s primary membership and all other positions.

Similarly, Mariyamul Asia, former AIADMK MLA from Aravakurichi in Karur district, met KA Sengottaiyan at his residence and joined Vijay's party. KA Sengottaiyan, who had claimed that many AIADMK functionaries would join TVK, welcomed them both by draping party shawls on them. Their switch-over came a few days after former Salem South AIADMK MLA SE Venkatachalam, who was in the BJP, quit the party and joined TVK.