Former AIADMK minister V Sathyamurthy joins DMK

Former AIADMK minister V Sathyamurthy today joined ruling DMK in the presence of Union minister MK Alagiri, who hinted at more desertions in the principal opposition's ranks.
   
Sathyamurthy told reporters the situation in AIADMK did not allow any person to work for people. "The Leadership of the party, when it was led by (founder) M G Ramachandran, was different... and present leadership is different. Now the party is interested in expelling those who worked for it."

It was destroying the principles and policies for which MGR stood and insulting the workers, Sathyamurthy, who quit as AIADMK's Ramanathapuram district secretary last month, charged.
    
Welcoming Sathyamurthy into the party fold, Alagiri, DMK South Zone organising secretary and son of chief minister M Karunanidhi, said the former AIADMK MP's action was an indication of how strong DMK was emerging in the southern districts, considered a stronghold of AIADMK.

Asked if he expected more AIADMK men to join DMK, Alagiri said "This is the beginning. You are seeing how many people are joining. We will wait, the (assembly) election is quite far."

After a string of electoral defeats since 2006, the AIADMK has been facing desertions with at least five of its MLAs either quitting the party or coming out openly against it, preferring to warm up to DMK.