Split Wide Open: AIADMK Faces Internal Crisis in Tamil Nadu Politics The AIADMK, the principal Opposition party in the previous Tamil Nadu Assembly, is on the brink of a significant split, following a series of electoral defeats and internal divisions. The party’s 47 legislators are now divided over their allegiance to General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who previously served as the Leader of Opposition. This schism has intensified after the party’s second consecutive loss in the recent Assembly election, alongside earlier setbacks in parliamentary elections. The two factions within the AIADMK have submitted written claims to Pro-tem Speaker M.V. Karuppiah, asserting their respective leaderships. The dissident group, led by former Ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani, appears to have broader support among legislators. This faction has publicly declared its intention to back the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s recent visit to Shanmugam’s office and his meetings with the faction’s members signal his alignment with this group. These interactions are part of Vijay’s broader political outreach, including meetings with DMK chief M.K. Stalin and other leaders in the past two days. The trust vote, scheduled for Wednesday, adds political weight to this development. Unlike previous instances where the AIADMK publicly announced its legislature party leader, there has been no official declaration this time. However, Palaniswami’s supporters argue that a May 9 meeting confirmed all 47 legislators’ written consent to designate him as the legislature party leader. They cite the Supreme Court’s 2023 verdict in the Shiv Sena case, which emphasized that the political party, not the legislature party, appoints the Whip and Leader in the House.#aiadmk #tamilaga_vettri_kazhagam #edappadi_k_palani_swami #c_v_e_shanmugam #s_p_velumani
