Turbulent Tides in Tamil Nadu: AIADMK's Split Sparks New Alliances

Amid growing speculations of a significant split within the AIADMK, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's visit to the office of former minister CV Shanmugam on Tuesday hints at potential shifts in the state's political alliances. The AIADMK, currently grappling with internal divisions, appears to be fracturing into two factions—one led by Shanmugam and the other by former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).

During his visit, Vijay was warmly welcomed by senior AIADMK leaders such as Shanmugam and SP Velumani. This scene underscores a deepening schism within the party, as a segment of AIADMK representatives seem to be aligning with Shanmugam's leadership.

Concurrently, AIADMK MLA Thalavai N Sundaram has refuted Shanmugam's claims of an EPS-DMK alliance, cautioning legal repercussions if the alleged split occurs. He stated, "All the statements given by CV Shanmugam are false. They want a berth with the TVK. We will take legal action if MLAs split."

The AIADMK now clearly operates under two distinct factions, with Shanmugam asserting majority support and backing for the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu. Shanmugam reiterated the party's stance against forming any alliances with the DMK, emphasizing, "We started this party against the DMK. For 53 years, we did politics against the DMK. The majority of members did not accept the proposal to join forces with DMK."

Speculation regarding another fracture in the AIADMK intensified after several MLAs went to Shanmugam's residence post-election results, which saw the party secure only 47 seats. Rumors suggest a possible alliance between AIADMK and TVK, as the Shanmugam faction's members relocated to a resort in Puducherry.

Ahead of a critical floor test in the Legislative Assembly, Vijay has intensified efforts to secure his government's majority by engaging with key allies, including a visit to the Congress state headquarters and meeting with VCK President Thol. Thirumavalavan.

The TVK-led coalition experienced a boost when the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) pledged "unconditional support." With IUML's addition, the coalition's backing to Vijay has grown to 121 MLAs, surpassing the critical majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly.

(With inputs from agencies.)