Political turbulence intensified in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday as a group of dissident AIADMK leaders announced support for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government, while the party leadership dismissed the move as rebellion and reaffirmed its backing for Edappadi K. Palaniswami. A faction of around 30 AIADMK leaders, led by senior figures SP Velumani and C. Ve. Shanmugam, declared that they would extend support to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government ahead of a crucial trust vote. The group also indicated plans to submit a formal letter of support to the Chief Minister.

Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam criticised the party leadership and alleged that Palaniswami had explored political arrangements that contradicted the AIADMK’s foundational opposition to the DMK. He further claimed that a section of leaders believed the party required “new life” and a return to the legacy of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, commonly referred to as “Amma.”The rebel camp also questioned AIADMK’s performance in the recent Assembly elections, in which the party reportedly won only 47 of the 164 seats it contested. They argued that the electoral setback reflected deeper leadership issues within the organisation.

In response, the AIADMK leadership strongly rejected the claims, calling them baseless and politically motivated. The party accused the dissident leaders of spreading misinformation after failing to secure electoral success in their respective constituencies. It maintained that alliance decisions cannot be made by a small group of MLAs and reiterated that the party cadre remains firmly aligned with Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

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In a statement posted on social media platform X, the AIADMK alleged that the rebel leaders were attempting to secure ministerial positions within the TVK government. The party further dismissed reports of internal divisions, describing them as “rumours” intended to create confusion within the organisation. The political friction comes at a time when Tamil Nadu’s newly formed government led by Vijay is preparing for a decisive trust vote. TVK, which secured 108 seats in its electoral debut, is working to consolidate support from smaller parties and independents to reach the majority threshold of 118 seats. The Congress, CPI, and CPI(M) have already extended their backing to the ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) also saw internal realignment, with party general secretary TTV Dhinakaran expelling MLA S. Kamaraj after he extended support to the Vijay government. The move underscores the broader political churn taking place across Tamil Nadu’s fragmented opposition landscape. As rival factions trade accusations and alliances continue to shift, the state’s political environment remains highly fluid ahead of the upcoming floor test, which is expected to reshape power equations in the Assembly.

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