Tamil Nadu politics witnessed another dramatic twist after a faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam announced support for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government just a day before the crucial floor test in the state assembly.
Senior AIADMK leader C. V. Shanmugham claimed on Tuesday that the majority of the party’s MLAs are backing his faction and have decided to support Vijay’s newly formed government. His remarks come amid growing reports of internal differences within the AIADMK, particularly with party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami, widely known as EPS.
Speaking to the media, Shanmugham said the people of Tamil Nadu had clearly voted in favour of Vijay’s leadership and that his faction respects the public mandate. He stated that the support was being extended not merely to TVK as a party, but specifically to Vijay as chief minister.
“The people’s mandate is for Vijay to lead Tamil Nadu. We congratulate Chief Minister Vijay and extend our support to the TVK government,” Shanmugham said while confirming that MLAs from his faction would soon meet Vijay formally.
The political development comes at a crucial moment for the actor-turned-politician, who took oath as Tamil Nadu chief minister on May 10 after days of intense negotiations following a hung assembly verdict. TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly by winning 108 seats but fell short of the majority mark of 118.
To form the government, Vijay secured support from several regional and opposition parties, including Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League. Their combined support helped Vijay cross the majority mark and receive the Governor’s approval to form the government.
Now, support from a section of AIADMK is expected to strengthen Vijay’s position further ahead of the confidence vote scheduled in the assembly on May 13.
Shanmugham also made a sensational claim against EPS, alleging that the AIADMK chief had explored the possibility of aligning with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after the election results. The statement is likely to intensify tensions within the AIADMK and trigger further political realignments in Tamil Nadu.
The latest political shift highlights the rapidly changing power equations in the state after TVK’s stunning electoral debut. Vijay’s rise from cinema superstar to chief minister has reshaped Tamil Nadu politics, ending decades of dominance by traditional Dravidian parties and opening the door to new alliances and internal party conflicts.
Political observers believe the upcoming floor test will now become a major test not only for Vijay’s government but also for the future unity of AIADMK. If Shanmugham’s claims about majority support among party MLAs prove accurate, the development could significantly weaken EPS’s hold over the party.
As Tamil Nadu prepares for a high-stakes assembly session, all eyes remain on whether Vijay can consolidate support and deliver political stability after one of the most dramatic elections in the state’s recent history.
