Lottery King Santiago Martin’s son-in-law switches sides again, now joins Vijay’s TVK

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Aadhav Arjuna, son-in-law of lottery king Santiago Martin, has officially joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay. Arjuna’s entry into the party, announced at TVK’s headquarters in Chennai, positions him as the general secretary for election campaign management, placing him third in the party hierarchy after Vijay and General Secretary Bussy Anand.

As reported by The Indian Express, this move marks Arjuna’s third major political shift in less than a year. A former deputy general secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), he was suspended in December 2024 for making anti-DMK remarks. Following his exit from VCK, he was rumored to be in talks with the AIADMK, but instead, he has now aligned with TVK, bringing his electoral strategy expertise to the party.

Aadhav Arjuna’s Political Shift: Joins Vijay’s TVK as General Secretary

Arjuna’s appointment is seen as a calculated move by TVK to enhance its electoral prospects in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He will work closely with political consultant Jhon Arokiasamy, who has been advising Vijay since the party’s inception. Arokiasamy, through his consultancy JPAC Persona, played a key role in organizing Vijay’s first political conference in Kallakurichi in October 2024.

Sources indicated to the Indian Express that Arjuna’s role extends beyond campaign strategy, he is expected to use his extensive political network to attract more leaders from other parties into TVK. Additionally, former AIADMK IT wing coordinator Nirmal Kumar and YouTuber Rajmohan have also joined TVK, securing key positions.

Arjuna’s father-in-law, Santiago Martin, has been a figure in Tamil Nadu politics, with influence through financial contributions. In March 2024, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami accused the ruling DMK of accepting Rs. 509 crore through electoral bonds from Martin’s company, Future Gamings and Hotel Services. Palaniswami criticized the DMK for allegedly benefiting from funds linked to lottery and online gambling businesses while failing to implement strong regulations against online gambling.

The allegations came after the Election Commission of India disclosed political donations. Santiago Martin donated Rs. 1,368 crore to various parties. Rs. 509 crore went to the DMK, while the destination of the remaining Rs. 859 crore remains unknown. The issue sparked a political storm. AIADMK questioned DMK’s integrity but stayed silent on BJP’s involvement in the electoral bond controversy.

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