500 DMK men follow Napoleon to join BJP

CHENNAI: In a shot in the arm for the NDA in Tamil Nadu, around 500 DMK cadres from central Chennai joined the BJP on Sunday. They were welcomed into the party by state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan.

This is the first time DMK workers have crossed over to the BJP after former Union minister D Napoleon, believed to be an associate of expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri, joined the saffron party with his followers on December 21 in the presence of Amit Shah.

"This is the Amit Shah effect and the success of our membership drive indicating the growing influence of the BJP in the state," party vice president M Chakravarthy said.

"The cadres from Chepauk, Triplicane and some other areas, mostly followers of L Rajendran, central Chennai in-charge of DMK have joined us as they like the BJP," state organizing secretary Mohanrajulu. said.

State BJP education wing president N Rajalakshmi said these DMK workers will play a very supportive role for the BJP as they bring a lot of experience in operating in the field.

"With the DMK base weakening, workers are moving away in search of better political alternatives like the BJP where they will be treated well with respect ahead of the 2016 assembly polls, " she told TOI.

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