TIRUCHY: Former minister and three-time Orathanadu MLA R Vaithilingam formally joined the DMK on Monday at a massive public event in Thanjavur, mobilising over 10,000 cadres from across the delta region.
Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin indicated that Vaithilingam would be entrusted with a larger role in the party.
Most of the cadres who accompanied him were from O Panneerselvam's Thondargal Urimai Meetpu Kazhagam, including district secretaries from Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Ariyalur. Party sources said the turnout reflected Vaithilingam’s strong support base in the Delta districts.
Addressing the gathering, Vaithilingam said he had joined the DMK to safeguard Dravidian ideology. “People today show aversion to the word Dravidianism, but the Chief Minister is firm about keeping the ideology alive,” he said, pledging to work for Stalin’s victory.
Responding, Stalin said he had closely followed Vaithilingam’s political journey after the split in the AIADMK following J Jayalalithaa’s death. “He wanted to live with self-respect and was distressed by the split. Today, he has returned to the mother party that ensures self-respect,” the Chief Minister said.
Stalin also hinted at greater responsibilities for the new entrant, telling him that he would be given “more work than expected” in the party.