A faction of the AIADMK led by senior leaders C. Ve. Shanmugam and S. P. Velumani on Tuesday announced its decision to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Addressing reporters in Chennai, Shanmugam said the faction would meet Chief Minister Vijay later in the day to formally submit a letter extending support to the newly formed government.
The development comes amid growing signs of an internal split within the AIADMK following the party’s performance in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Shanmugam says AIADMK cannot align with DMK
Shanmugam alleged that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami was exploring the possibility of forming a government with support from the DMK, a move he claimed was strongly opposed by a majority within the party.
According to Shanmugam, the AIADMK was founded to oppose the DMK and any alliance with the ruling party would weaken the organisation politically.
He said party members believed that joining hands with the DMK could damage the AIADMK’s identity and long-term political relevance in Tamil Nadu.
Shanmugam further stated that the faction decided to support the TVK government because the party had secured a clear mandate in the Assembly elections.
AIADMK faction claims majority support among MLAs
The senior AIADMK leader claimed that the majority of AIADMK MLAs had backed resolutions passed during an internal meeting of legislators.
According to him, the MLAs resolved that the AIADMK should contest future elections independently without entering into alliances.
He also announced key appointments within the Assembly wing of the party, naming S P Velumani as the AIADMK Assembly leader and C. Vijayabaskar as the party whip.
Shanmugam said the faction had already submitted the necessary documents and leadership details to the Pro-tem Speaker.
Leaders seek internal review after electoral setbacks
Reflecting on the party’s recent electoral losses, Shanmugam said AIADMK leaders collectively accepted responsibility for the setbacks and called for an internal assessment of the reasons behind the defeats.
He urged Palaniswami to convene a meeting of the AIADMK general council at the earliest to discuss the party’s future strategy and organisational issues.
According to Shanmugam, the party leadership needs to consult all sections of the organisation to understand the reasons behind repeated electoral losses and rebuild the party structure.
He added that further discussions among party leaders and MLAs would continue later in the day.
AIADMK faces uncertainty after Tamil Nadu polls
The latest developments indicate deepening divisions within the AIADMK following the Assembly election results in Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK secured 47 seats in the elections, while the TVK emerged victorious and formed the government under the leadership of Vijay.
The announcement by the Shanmugam-led faction is expected to intensify political activity within the AIADMK and could have implications for the party’s future organisational structure and opposition strategy in the state Assembly.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)