IN HIS third political manoeuvre in lower than a yr, Aadhav Arjuna, the son-in-law of “Lottery King” Santiago Martin, joined actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as the final secretary of election marketing campaign administration.
Arjuna was earlier the deputy common secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and was seen as a rising star within the VCK. However he was suspended in December 2024 after publicly attacking the DMK that leads the alliance that VCK is part of. At a ebook launch, Arjuna had known as for the tip of “monarchy” in Tamil Nadu politics, triggering backlash from the DMK and its allies.
In December, stories urged Arjuna was in talks with the AIADMK, with sources indicating he was negotiating a place within the get together. With Arjuna’s profession in sports activities having served because the President of the Basketball Federation of India, a number of AIADMK sources had hinted that discussions have been underway to accommodate him as the top of a newly-created place meant to recognise “veteran sportsmen and girls”.
Nevertheless, in a shock flip, he has now joined TVK, securing a senior function within the get together.
Arjuna’s appointment in TVK is critical. His place as common secretary of election marketing campaign administration locations him third within the get together’s hierarchy after Vijay and Normal Secretary Bussy Anand. The latter is a longtime confidant of the actor-politician.
An announcement asserting the choice Friday learn: “I want to inform you that Mr. Aadhav Arjuna, who has been appointed as the final secretary of election marketing campaign administration, will collaborate with my political technique mentor, Mr. John Arockiasamy, and comply with his political methods to design election campaigns and undertake election administration duties.”
A more in-depth studying of this indicators that whereas Arjuna holds a high-ranking title, and his monetary backing will carry him heft, his obligations will likely be supervised beneath Arockiasamy, a political model strategist and shut affiliate of the actor from the early phases of his political plans. It was Arockiasamy who helped Vijay flip his fan golf equipment right into a highly-organised political physique
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Nevertheless, a bit inside TVK stays cautious about Arjuna’s elevation.
“By appointing Arjuna as third within the get together, Vijay could have dedicated a mistake much like (VCK chief) Thirumavalavan, who gave him a senior put up bypassing skilled leaders in VCK, solely to remorse it later,” a TVK functionary stated.
He added: “We heard final month that he was becoming a member of AIADMK. However now he’s right here. The get together ought to profit from his capacity to mobilise funds and assets.”
Arjuna’s political journey has been swift and unconventional. Earlier than becoming a member of the VCK, he was carefully related to the DMK’s core technique group, working beneath the management of Chief Minister M Ok Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan. His political ambitions, nevertheless, have been left unfulfilled when he did not safe a DMK ticket for the Rajya Sabha.
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He then joined the VCK in February 2024, the place he rapidly rose to prominence early final yr, solely to embarrass get together chief Thirumavalavan earlier than different VCK leaders and the DMK, leading to his expulsion inside months.
Reacting to stories of Arjuna becoming a member of TVK, VCK chief Thirumavalavan stated his get together had taken disciplinary motion and suspended him. “Most leaders in such circumstances would wait, clarify their place, and request reinstatement. He selected to stop,” Thirumavalavan stated.
Different members of Arjuna’s household are additionally in politics. His mother-in-law and Martin’s spouse Leema Rose holds a key place within the Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK), an NDA ally led by highly effective businessman and SRM Group proprietor T R Paarivendhar. His brother-in-law, Charles Jose Martin, works with the BJP. “Lottery King” Santiago Martin, his father-in-law, was within the information final yr for being the most important electoral donor to the DMK, contributing Rs 509 crores or 77% of the get together’s whole declared funding.
Apart from Arjuna, one other notable appointment on Friday was that of CTR Nirmal Kumar from AIADMK, who was earlier within the BJP’s IT wing earlier than he joined AIADMK in March 2023. Kumar, who will play a key function in TVK’s digital wing, has beforehand confronted a number of circumstances and arrest warrants in reference to faux information, together with a video from Bahrain that he posted on his X deal with, falsely claiming it was taken close to Marina Seashore in Chennai to criticise the federal government throughout a flood disaster.
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One other appointment on Friday was that of YouTuber and social media influencer Rajmohan Arumugam who is thought for his channel “Put Chutney”.
