Former AIADMK Minister P. Benjamin joins DMK

Former AIADMK Minister and the party’s former Tiruvallur Central East district secretary, P. Benjamin, joined the DMK on Wednesday. He officially joined the party at Anna Arivalayam in the presence of party president M.K. Stalin.

Benjamin, who had been with the AIADMK for a long time, previously served as the Deputy Mayor of the Chennai Corporation. Following the 2016 Assembly election, he served as the Minister for School Education, and later as the Minister for Rural Industries.

In the 2026 Assembly election, he contested from the Maduravoyal constituency but was defeated by the TVK candidate. When differences arose within the AIADMK after the elections, he was stripped of the post of district secretary.

Speaking after his meeting with Mr. Stalin, Mr. Benjamin said he joined the DMK with the aim to “continue serving the public”.