Former Nanguneri MLA resigns from AIADMK; to join Vijay-led TVK

Former Nanguneri MLA Reddiyarpatti V. Narayanan of AIADMK has resigned from the primary membership of the party as this segment has been allotted to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, a breakaway group of the AIADMK led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, for the upcoming Assembly election.

As Nanguneri faced the by-election in 2019 after then sitting MLA H. Vasanthakumar resigned as he was elected to the Parliament from Kanniyakumari constituency, the AIADMK fielded Narayanan, who defeated Indian National Congress candidate Ruby R. Manoharan by a massive margin of 33,445 votes. Even though he was hopeful of retaining the constituency in the 2021 Assembly election, the party reposted faith in its Tirunelveli district secretary Thatchai N. Ganesaraja, who lost the battle of ballots to Congress candidate Ruby R. Manoharan by over 16,000 votes.

With the hope of being fielded again in Nanguneri constituency, Mr. Narayanan was doing preliminary works in the segment over the past couple of years. Now, the allocation of this segment to the AMMK in the NDA, a disgruntled Mr. Narayanan has left the party.

“I was working tirelessly to create a strong base for AIADMK in Nanguneri constituency for the for five years. My work attracted youth. As the AIADMK high command has landed unbearable pain on my head, I’m travelling towards a new path. Nanguneri voters, who are appreciating my work, are ready to back me overwhelmingly after this painful development,” Mr. Narayanan told ‘The Hindu’ who was on his way to Chennai on Thursday night.

When asked if he would join actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam and contest from Nanguneri again, he hinted that he would meet Mr. Vijay in Chennai on Friday and join the TVK.