AIADMK faction led by C.Ve. Shanmugam declares support to TVK; says EPS wanted to be CM with DMK backing

A rebel group of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by former Ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), declared its support to the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. 

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The decision had been made in light of the Assembly election verdict, former Law Minister Mr. Shanmugam said while interacting with the press in the presence of many of his colleagues, including Mr. Velumani, C. Vijayabhaskar, and R. Kamaraj. 

Mr. 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. Because the AIADMK was established to oppose the DMK and it had been practising politics all these years primarily on this plank, any move to collaborate with its rival would render “the party’s disappearance,” Mr. Shanmugam observed.

He said Mr. Velumani had been elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party; G. Hari, the deputy leader; Dr. Vijayabhaskar, the whip; and Mr. Kamaraj, the secretary.

Mr. Shanmugam and Mr. Velumani said reasons for the party’s back-to-back electoral setbacks must be analysed, as the AIADMK should have won the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections, besides the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “We have requested the general secretary to convene a meeting of the general council as early as possible,” the former Law Minister observed. He added that “we are no longer in any pre-poll alliance.”

Mr. Velumani requested the media not to spread rumours that his group was seeking to create a split in the party. “Elders of many of us were with the party since the launch of the organisation,” he pointed out.

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

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