In what has become a shocking switchover for BJP, a Tamil Nadu BJP leader from Erode has quit from the party and joined DMK ahead of the Erode East bypoll. He also pledged that his supporters in the Erode East constituency will cast their votes to EVKS Elangovan, the candidate of the DMK alliance in the bypoll. 

N Vinayagamurthy had been serving as a General Secretary of Tamil Nadu BJP and on Monday - February 6, Vinayagamurthy had officially joined DMK in the presence of DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Senior DMK leaders including Durai Murugan, Senthil Balaji, and Ponmudi were present during the event of welcoming Vinayagamurthy. 

In line with Vinayagamurthy, the BJP youth wing functionaries in Erode - Venkatesh and Maduraiveeran had quit BJP and officially joined DMK. In his statement, Vinayagamurthy said, "Our community has 35,000 voters in the Erode East constituency. All these voters will cast their votes to Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan in the upcoming bypoll. I am assuring that I will fiercely campaign in the bypoll (for the Congress candidate) and would present a huge victory to MK Stalin's hands." 

Vinayagamurthy had a political affiliation with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) before joining the BJP. Vinayagamurthy had also served as a councillor in Erode and after quitting the BJP, he has now joined DMK ahead of the Erode East bypoll. 

The filing of nominations for the Erode East bypoll had begun on January 31 and will end on Tuesday - February 7. The nominations would be scrutinised on February 8 and the last date for withdrawing nomination is on February 10. While the polling will take place on February 27, the results will be declared on March 2.