Rebel-legislators of the AIADMK on Thursday met Water Resources and Rural Development Minister N. Anand at the Secretariat.

Senior leaders S.P. Velumani, C.Ve. Shanmugam and K.P. Anbalagan were among those who met the Minister. Mr Velumani told reporters he met the Minister to include certain areas, falling under his constituency of Thondamuthur, within the ambit of Athikaduv-Avinashi water supply project.

Asked whether he would join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), he strongly rebutted the suggestion and emphaised that the question did not arise at all, as, after all, it was the AIADMK that had “raised” him and others politically.

He lauded the TVK-led regime for reviving certain schemes which were in force when the AIADMK was in power and scrapped by the previous DMK government. He pointed out that the government should be given time to prove its mettle.

Mr Shanmugam also stated he had issues regarding his constituency to represent to the Minister. To a question why he had not attended the party’s consultation held by the general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he shot back:” why should I meet him?”

Published - August 06, 2026 07:46 pm IST