AIADMK's CV Shanmugam Faction Announces Support To TVK A faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by senior leaders CV Shanmugam and SP Velumani, announced its decision to extend support to Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Tuesday. This move came after the TVK secured a dominant victory in the state assembly elections, winning 108 of 234 seats but falling short of a majority by 10 seats. The faction’s backing was critical in helping the TVK cross the threshold for a majority, though the coalition’s future remains uncertain due to the inclusion of long-time DMK allies. Shanmugam, a prominent figure within the AIADMK, cited the party’s electoral defeats over the past decade as a key reason for the decision. He highlighted that the AIADMK had lost three elections to its arch-rival, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and a fourth to the TVK in the recent polls. “We need to revive the party and discuss its future,” he stated, urging AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, known as EPS, to convene the party’s council. Shanmugam also criticized Palaniswami’s earlier proposal to form an alliance with the DMK, calling it “unacceptable.” The AIADMK-DMK alliance would have been a historic and politically unprecedented move, given the decades-long rivalry between the two parties, which has at times escalated into violent clashes. However, Shanmugam claimed that some within the AIADMK had reportedly considered such an alliance to counter the TVK’s rise. He dismissed the idea, stating, “For 53 years, our politics was against the DMK. A proposal suggesting an AIADMK government with DMK support was rejected. If we formed such an alliance, AIADMK would not exist.” Shanmugam also emphasized that the faction’s decision to support the TVK did not signify a split within the AIADMK.#bjp #aiadmk #tvk #eps #cv_shanmugam
