Chennai: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has officially fractured following a dramatic declaration of support for the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. Senior leader C.V. Shanmugam announced on Tuesday that 30 of the party’s elected legislators have decided to back Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who was sworn in on May 10. This pivotal shift leaves the official leader of the opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, with a diminished group of only 17 loyalists. The move comes as the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly begins its first session, signalling a major realignment in the state’s political landscape just days before a scheduled floor test.
Shanmugam framed the decision as a necessary step to honour the public mandate and preserve the core identity of the AIADMK. He stated that the recent election results represented a clear preference for Vijay’s leadership rather than a traditional party victory. According to Shanmugam, the rebel faction chose to support the TVK primarily to prevent an alliance with the DMK, which he claimed would have led to the total dissolution of the AIADMK’s legacy. He emphasized that the party was founded 53 years ago specifically to oppose the DMK, and maintaining that stance remains his group’s priority despite the internal split.
The internal crisis appears to be the culmination of several years of declining electoral fortunes under the leadership of Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Critics within the party point to five consecutive losses, including the 2019 and 2024 general elections and the most recent 2026 assembly polls, where the party managed to secure only 47 seats. Furthermore, senior leaders have voiced frustration over Palaniswami’s handling of the alliance with the BJP, alleging that his personal friction with central leadership and poor seat allocation in the recent elections significantly weakened the party’s position.
As the state prepares for the confidence motion on May 13, the TVK administration finds itself in a strengthened position thanks to this unexpected surge of support. CM Vijay, the ninth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has already begun making policy changes, including the closure of hundreds of liquor outlets near schools and temples. With the support of the Shanmugam-led faction, the TVK looks poised to navigate its first major legislative hurdle. Meanwhile, former leaders like K.C. Palaniswami have suggested that the only way for the AIADMK to survive long-term is for a complete overhaul of the top leadership to allow for a potential reunification before the next electoral cycle.
