V.M.C. Sivakumar joins AIADMK

Says Puducherry needs a strong leadership to tide over financial crisis

Adding strength:Independent legislator V.M.C. Sivakumar (fourth from right) met AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and joined the party in Chennai on Sunday.— Photo: Special Arrangement

Former DMK strongman and independent legislator from Karaikal region V.M.C. Sivakumar on Sunday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in Chennai and joined the party.

Mr. Sivakumar was elected from Neravy T.R. Pattinam in Karaikal region as an Independent MLA during the 2011 Assembly elections.

Denied ticket by the DMK he contested the election as a rebel and defeated the party nominee Geetha by 358 votes. The AINRC which emerged as the largest party with 15 MLAs in 2011 formed the government with the support of Mr. Sivakumar.

Speaking to

The Hindu , Mr. Sivakumar said Puducherry needs a strong leadership to tide over the present fiscal crisis and for implementation of various welfare schemes for the people.

“I have strong faith in the leadership of Amma and the AIADMK alone was committed to and could provide justice to all sections of the people and ensure overall development of Karaikal and other regions.”

Mr. Sivakumar, a former Agriculture Minister said that he had remained silent for the last five years in keeping with his promise that he would not disturb the AINRC Government.

He said that no major infrastructure development had taken place in the last five years and financial management was a total collapse.

He was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 2000 during the previous DMK regime.

The fresh political development comes close on the heels of former AINRC MLA P. Angalane joining the Congress. Among political functionaries who joined the AIADMK on Sunday are Vaiyapuri Manikandan, former Chairman of Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), former DMK MLA R. Rajaraman, P.M. Saravanan of the Congress and retired Government official G. Panneerselvam.