The internal crisis within the AIADMK deepened further on Saturday after four former ministers and ex-MLAs joined the ruling TVK at the party headquarters in Chennai. The latest defections have added to the challenges facing the opposition party following its disappointing performance in the Assembly elections.

The leaders who joined TVK are Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, M C Sampath, Kadambur C Raju and N R Sivapathi. They formally joined the ruling party in the presence of TVK General Secretary Anand and General Secretary for Election Campaign Management Aadhav Arjuna at the party headquarters.

The AIADMK has been struggling with internal divisions since its poor showing in the April 23 Assembly elections. The party's troubles first became visible when a group of 25 rebel MLAs supported the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly. The legislators voted in favour of the motion despite the party whip directing them to oppose it.

Following the confidence vote, four rebel MLAs resigned from the AIADMK and later joined TVK. Although the remaining rebel legislators eventually reconciled with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, the party has continued to witness a steady exit of leaders and workers.

The latest entrants to TVK are all experienced leaders who have held important positions in the AIADMK in the past. However, they were unable to secure victories in the recent Assembly elections. Udumalai K Radhakrishnan lost the election from the Udumalpet constituency. M C Sampath finished in third place in the Cuddalore Assembly constituency. Kadambur C Raju was defeated in the Kovilpatti constituency.

The defections come just days after another major setback for the AIADMK. On May 29, more than 300 AIADMK members joined TVK at its Panaiyur headquarters in Chennai. The group included former ministers Vellamandi Natarajan and Anandan, along with former MLAs Natraj and Sadhan Prabhakar.

The growing number of leaders leaving the AIADMK and joining TVK has strengthened the perception that the ruling party is attracting support from opposition ranks. The trend has become increasingly visible in the weeks following the Assembly elections.

Among the prominent leaders who moved from AIADMK to TVK, K A Sengottaiyan was the first major figure to make the switch. He publicly backed Vijay well before the elections and later joined the party, paving the way for other leaders to follow.

With senior leaders, former ministers, ex-MLAs and hundreds of party workers shifting their allegiance, the AIADMK continues to face mounting pressure. The latest round of defections is likely to intensify concerns within the party as TVK continues to expand its political influence across Tamil Nadu.