AIADMK rebels back Vijay ahead of Tamil Nadu floor test

Chennai: A faction of the AIADMK, led by SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam, on Tuesday extended support to Tamil Nadu's ruling coalition headed by chief minister C Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Shanmugam said the actions of the rebels were motivated by the electoral defeats suffered by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) over the past decade -- three at the hands of arch rivals Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and a fourth, last month, by the TVK.

In the April 23 assembly polls, AIADMK won only 47 of the 164 seats it contested.


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Shanmugam accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of having attempted to form a government with the support of the party's traditional adversary, the DMK, in the aftermath of the election results.

"This was a shock to us," he said. He said the AIADMK was established to oppose the DMK and it had been practising politics with this as its cornerstone and hence any move to collaborate with its rival would render the party's disappearance.

Shanmugam said Velumani had been elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party, G Hari, the deputy leader, C Vijayabhaskar, the whip and Kamaraj, the secretary.

They said a request has been made to the general secretary to convene a meeting of the general council as early as possible to analyse the reasons for the back-to-back failures of the party. They also asserted that they are no longer in any pre-poll alliance.

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Velumani also asked the media not to spread rumours that his group was seeking to create a split in the party.

After addressing the media, the AIAMDK MLAs left for Fort St George to attend the assembly sitting.

It is believed that of the total of 47 AIADMK legislators, 30 MLAs are with the group led by Shanmugam and Velumani.

However, some like AIADMK leader SS Krishnamurthy said the party had directed all its MLAs to vote against TVK in the floor test on Wednesday.

"Action will be taken against those MLAs who act against the party's directive," he told reporters.

Other AIADMK MLAs like Thalavai N Sundaram too echoed this sentiment.

"All the statements given by CV Shanmugam are false. They want a ministerial berths with the TVK. We will take legal action (if MLAs split). We met the Speaker regarding many issues. We have given a list of MLAs to the Speaker. NDA alliance is present," he categorically told the media.

AIADMK MLA and former minister OS Manian too refuted claims of talks with the DMK.

"CV Shanmugam met the press and said Edappadi K Palaniswami spoke with DMK for an alliance but this is not true. Edappadi K Palaniswami is the party's leader with 47 MLAs. We have given a letter with signatures of the MLAs to the Speaker," he said.

Amidst the growing tensions in the Dravidian party, Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay met the rebel faction in the evening ahead of the crucial floor test on Wednesday.

Vijay visited Shanmugam's residence to consolidate support from a breakaway faction of the AIADMK. If the 30 MLAs support Vijay, his strength in the assembly is expected to climb to around 150, comfortably securing his position before the upcoming vote.

Meanwhile, TVK legislator JCD Prabhakar was unanimously elected as Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker on Tuesday.