Chennai: Rajya Sabha MP R Dharmar, a supporter of former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, on Saturday switched loyalties to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. He called on Palaniswami along with his supporters at the party headquarters. The development took place a day after Palaniswami and AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran shared stage with PM Modi and launched the campaign for polls. Along with Dharmar, scores of Panneerselvam supporters from Ramanathapuram returned to the Palaniswami camp.
Dharmar was made Rajya Sabha MP in 2022, before the split in AIADMK. After Panneerselvam parted ways with Palaniswami, Dharmar sided with Panneerselvam. But, as almost all major leaders on that side, such as former minister R Vaithilingam and former MLA Paul Manoj Pandian, Dharmar chose the side that made him MP. This leaves Panneerselvam with a sole supporter, Usilampatti MLA G Ayyappan, in the state assembly. TNN
