Tamil Nadu politics took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after Chief Minister Vijay met senior AIADMK leaders C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani amid growing speculation of a major split within the party ahead of a crucial Assembly floor test.
The high-profile meeting came at a time when tensions inside the AIADMK are reportedly at an all-time high. A faction led by C.V. Shanmugam has openly extended support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), creating fresh political uncertainty in the state.
According to reports, around 30 AIADMK MLAs have backed the Shanmugam camp, making it a powerful group inside the party. The development is seen as a major setback for AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), who is facing pressure from within his own ranks.
Speaking to the media, C.V. Shanmugam denied that he was trying to split the AIADMK. However, he confirmed that many MLAs were unhappy with discussions around a possible understanding between the AIADMK and DMK after the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Shanmugam said the AIADMK was founded to oppose the DMK and claimed that any alliance with the party would go against the movement’s core principles established by MGR and Jayalalithaa.
The political drama unfolded just days after Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 108 seats but fell short of the majority mark. The support from rebel AIADMK MLAs could now strengthen Vijay’s position ahead of the floor test.
Reports also suggest that the Velumani faction wants changes in the AIADMK legislature leadership, further exposing cracks inside the party. A letter seeking S.P. Velumani’s appointment as legislature party leader reportedly added fuel to the ongoing internal battle.
Meanwhile, political observers believe the latest developments could completely reshape Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, especially with Vijay emerging as a strong new force challenging the traditional dominance of the DMK and AIADMK.