(Image source from: Financialexpress.com)
The situation within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) worsened on Wednesday when party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami dismissed dissenting members, such as SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, for voting in support of Vijay’s government during the Assembly's trust vote.
In total, 29 AIADMK members, which included 13 current MLAs, were relieved from different party roles, including those as district secretaries. Besides Shanmugam and Velumani, several prominent AIADMK figures like R Kamaraj, C Vijayabhaskar, Thangamani, KP Anbazhagan, KC Veeramani, and MR Vijayabhaskar have also been taken out of their positions. This occurred shortly after 25 AIADMK MLAs supported the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the trust vote, enabling Vijay to easily demonstrate his majority in the Assembly.
The government led by TVK, which did not reach the majority needed after gaining 108 seats in a 234-member Assembly, received external support from Congress, Left parties, IUML, and the dissenting group within AIADMK, ultimately achieving victory in the trust vote with assistance from 144 MLAs. During the floor test for Chief Minister Vijay in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, there was considerable drama after Palaniswami claimed that AIADMK MLAs were reportedly offered money and ministerial positions to vote for the leader of TVK. While Palaniswami asserted that all 47 AIADMK MLAs would vote against Vijay, Velumani from the opposing group openly pledged allegiance to him. “We are against the motion. All AIADMK MLAs will vote no,” the former chief minister stated, adding, “Forty-seven candidates won with the Twin Leaves symbol. About 66 percent of voters did not choose TVK.” Nevertheless, the proceedings shifted unexpectedly when Speaker JCD Prabhakar allowed AIADMK MLA SP Velumani to speak right after Palaniswami, a decision that was met with strong disapproval from his supporters.
Showing clear defiance to the decisions made by Palaniswami, Velumani openly expressed his support for Vijay. "Out of respect for what the people want, the AIADMK is backing the Confidence Motion introduced by the Chief Minister," he stated. Shortly after the trust vote, senior AIADMK figure C Ve Shanmugam openly challenged Palaniswami, commonly known as EPS, accusing him of neglecting the party’s original anti-DMK principles.
“There is a call within the party, even before the elections, for all those who have left or been expelled to be welcomed back so that the party can become stronger and succeed in the elections. However, he does not seem to have any such plan,” Shanmugam remarked. Denying the accusations of disloyalty and breaking party rules, the dissenting leader argued that it was EPS who has strayed from the fundamental politics of the AIADMK. “I have not been disloyal. Our party’s essential goal is to eliminate the DMK. For fifty years, we have been opposing the DMK,” he stated. “Yet, as the general secretary of the AIADMK, after losing the election, he lowered himself to become CM and forgot our party's core values," he continued.
With the group led by Shanmugam and Velumani openly supporting the TVK administration, the internal conflict within the party has escalated from mere speculation to open conflict. This division raises concerns about AIADMK’s cohesion, leadership, and its position in the opposition, particularly as the state approaches future elections. If this rift expands, Tamil Nadu may experience a significant realignment, with Vijay’s government possibly benefiting from a divided opposition and changing alliances.
