A faction of 30 plus AIADMK MLA’s led by Mailam Assembly Constituency MLA, C Ve.Shanmugam and Thondamuthur Assembly Constituency MLA, SP.Velumani on Tuesday announced support for the government headed by C Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, signalling internal unrest within the Dravidian party. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

A group within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by senior leaders SP Velumani and C V Shanmugham on Tuesday announced support for the government headed by C Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, signalling internal unrest within the Dravidian party.

Claiming the backing of around 30 MLAs, the group urged AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to convene a general council meeting to review the reasons behind the party’s consecutive electoral defeats.

Addressing reporters, Shanmugham said the party had contested the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance but suffered defeat. “We accept this. We are now not part of the NDA. We need to revive the AIADMK, and this is primary motive. We have decided to support the TVK government,” he said.

Even as the announcement fuelled speculation over a possible split in the AIADMK, Velumani dismissed such suggestions and appealed to the media not to portray the development as a breakaway move.

“We don’t have any plan to split the party. This is not our intention. Please don’t spread such news,” Velumani said.

Meanwhile, senior AIADMK MLA Thalavai N Sundaram backing Palaniswami said, “All the statements given by CV Shanmugam are false. They want berth with the TVK. We will take legal action (if MLAs split). We met the Speaker regarding many issues. We have given a list of MLAs to the Speaker. NDA alliance is intact.”

On Monday, the group headed by Velumani met the pro-term speaker pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppiah with a letter of support of 30 MLAs, including Shanmugam and Vijayabaskar. The letter urged the speaker in making Velumani as the AIADMK Legislature Party Leader.

At the same time, a group of 17 MLAs loyal to Palaniswamy met Karuppiah and submitted their support to Palaniswami as leader of the AIADMK legislature party.

Meanwhile on Tuesday evening, Chief Minister Vijay met the group headed by Shanmugham and Velumani.

More Like This

Published on May 12, 2026