Coimbatore: DMK councillor from ward 77 S Rajalakshmi on Friday joined AIADMK in the presence of party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.Having served DMK for the past 15 years, Rajalakshmi expressed dissatisfaction about the way the party treated her. “Despite having worked in the ground for so many years and finally becoming a ward councillor, I wasn’t even allocated any booth-level work for the upcoming election,” she told TOI. She said the situation was not different even during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “There is no respect for the councillors within the party and no freedom for public work. As an elected representative, I was ill-treated many a time, even during the 2024 election campaign. Block-level representatives overrule us. AIADMK is far better in giving respect to every individual representing the party. Every resident in my ward trusts my work and is willing to support my choice in electing the assembly member.” She said a few more DMK councillors were in talks with AIADMK to join the party. “It is not just me, but a few other DMK councillors have been considering switching loyalty to AIADMK for the past two years. I am sure that DMK will lose in Thondamuthur and other constituencies in this assembly election. And the reason for the party’s defeat will be because of its own functionaries.”
