Chennai (PTI): Former AIADMK minister T M Selvaganapathy, who has been expelled for "anti-party" activities, along with over 2,000 of his supporters from Salem district, joined the DMK on Thursday in the presence of party leader M Karunanidhi.

Selvaganapathy, once considered to be a close confidant of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, was the local administration minister in the Jayalalithaa government from 1991 to 1996.

He was removed from the post of Salem district AIADMK secretary for "anti-party" activities two days ago.

Selvaganapathy, who defeated the then petroleum minister Vazhapadi K Ramamurthy in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, is considered a political strategist in the backward Vanniyar heartland of Salem and Dharmapuri districts and enjoys considerable clout among the community.

Welcoming him to the party, Karunanidhi said he was glad that a large number of AIADMK workers, led by Selvaganapathy, had joined DMK.

"I am surprised that you have been in the AIADMK for so long," he said.

He said those who joined the party would work along with the DMK workers in Salem district under the leadership of the party strongman and state Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam.

Selvaganapathy in a statement alleged that thousands of loyal AIADMK men like him were being humiliated by the party high command.