T.R. Shanmugasundaram, a businessman and managing director of TRS Properties, joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Friday in the presence of party chief coordinator K. A. Sengottaiyan at his residence in Kullampalayam near Gobichettipalayam.

Shanmugasundaram, a former DMK executive committee member, had earlier been associated with the Tamil Maanila Congress and contested the 2016 Assembly election, securing 13,324 votes. He later joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and contested the 2021 Assembly election, in which he polled 1,02,775 votes.

After being denied a ticket for the 2026 Assembly election, he left the DMK and contested as an Independent candidate from Mettupalayam, securing 26,756 votes.