MK Stalin meets P Benjamin (Image/PTI)

NEW DELHI: Former AIADMK minister P Benjamin has joined the DMK along with his supporters, in a significant political shift that adds to the continuing exodus of leaders from the opposition party in Tamil Nadu.Benjamin joined the ruling DMK in the presence of party president and chief minister MK Stalin at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on Wednesday.He was accompanied by several AIADMK office-bearers, including Tiruvallur Central Party District Women’s Wing secretary Yamini Ilayaraja, district students’ wing secretary Dinesh and other functionaries who also switched sides.Senior DMK leaders TR Baalu, A Raja and RS Bharathi were present at the event.Benjamin, a former deputy mayor of the Chennai Corporation, had served as a minister in the AIADMK governments led by J Jayalalithaa and later Edappadi K Palaniswami. His departure comes amid a series of defections from the party in recent months.The AIADMK leadership has been dealing with internal challenges, including reported dissent among some MLAs in recent political developments, further weakening the party’s organisational strength.Benjamin’s exit follows a wider pattern of defections, with several former AIADMK ministers, including MC Sampath, NR Sivapathi, Kadambur C Raju and Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, recently joining the ruling TVK. Last month, former AIADMK MLA VNP Venkatraman also joined the DMK in Chennai.