At least 15 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders from Tamil Nadu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday in New Delhi.
The AIADMK leaders joined the saffron party in the presence of its BJP president Amit Shah.
Among the leaders who joined the saffron party were former industries minister Nainar Nagendran, former MLA of Arcot and AIADMK cadre Srinivasan and ex-Vellore Mayor P Karthiyayini.
This development has come as a big setback to Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led government.
Earlier in the day, AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran said that all those MLAs supporting him will teach a lesson to those who want to evict party's General Secretary V.K. Sasikala.
On Aug 24, 19 AIADMK MLAs withdrew their support from the ruling Tamil Nadu party after the two warring factions of AIADMK - led by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami announced a merger.
The 19 rebel MLAs submitted memorandums to Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, saying they have no confidence on Chief Minister.
Speculations were made earlier that a number of DMK and AIADMK leaders and workers were expected to join BJP this month-end when party president Amit Shah visits the state in August end.
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