The rebel camp within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam is slowly returning to the party fold, with efforts underway to broker peace between the warring factions.
Just days after two groups of AIADMK MLAs separately submitted petitions to Speaker J C D Prabhakar seeking the disqualification of the rival camp, the factions have now decided to withdraw their complaints and work together.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Velumani confirmed the reconciliation move and said both sides had agreed to function in unison. Though Shanmugham was absent from the meeting, Velumani said he too backed the rapprochement.
“The AIADMK stands united now with party’s general secretary agreeing to consider our requests one by one in due course. There is no split in the AIADMK but minor differences, which has been sorted out,” he said.
Significant relief
The patch-up comes as a significant relief for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which has been rattled by the resignation of four MLAs in recent days. The legislators later joined the ruling Tamilaga Munnetra Kazhagam, dealing a setback to the opposition party ahead of the next round of political battles in Tamil Nadu.
Of the total 47 AIADMK MLAs, 25 rebel legislators backed the TVK government while 22 MLAs aligned with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami opposing the confidence motion moved by C Joseph Vijay, founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Published on May 27, 2026