Veteran actor R Sarathkumar has merged his party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) with the BJP in Tamil Nadu, days after entering an alliance with it.The merger took place at his erstwhile office in Chennai when the state BJP Chief Annamalai visited.
“I took this decision after so much of introspection. I was apprehensive what my cadre would say. I am glad they were persuaded. Instead of seeking alliance and demanding seats, I thought why not offer full support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Sarathkumar said.
The 69-year-old was made a Rajya Sabha MP by the DMK in 2001. After a stint with the AIADMK, he launched his own party, AISMK, in 2007. In 2011, he was elected MLA to the Tenkasi assembly constituency in alliance with the AIADMK.
Welcoming him to the party, Mr Annamalai said, “Sarathkumar would now have a national role in mainstream politics”.