AIADMK Split Deepens as Dissident Faction Extends Support to TVK Government

Chennai: A major political development unfolded in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday after the AIADMK legislature party witnessed an internal split, with one faction extending support to the ruling TVK government.

The breakaway group, led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam, announced that it would back the government while urging party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to immediately convene the party’s general council meeting to address the growing crisis within the organisation.

Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam claimed that some had discussed the possibility of forming a government with the support of the DMK, a move that reportedly triggered strong opposition from several AIADMK legislators. According to him, many MLAs were unwilling to accept any arrangement involving the DMK due to the decades-long political rivalry between the two parties.

The dissident faction maintained that the AIADMK currently stood without any formal alliance and needed to rethink its political direction. As part of that position, the group said it had decided to support the TVK administration while remaining within the AIADMK framework.

Meanwhile, SP Velumani and G Hari have been elected leader and deputy leader of the legislature party, respectively.

Leaders from the group insisted that their actions were aimed at strengthening the party rather than dividing it. Velumani stated that there was no intention to split the AIADMK and described the move as an effort to protect the party’s future after a series of electoral setbacks in recent years.

The developments have intensified uncertainty within the AIADMK, with growing pressure on the party leadership to hold internal consultations and prevent further divisions ahead of future political battles in the state.