Rebel AIADMK Faction Dumps EPS Over Proposed DMK Pact, Announces Support For TVK

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 10:00 IST

The rebel faction also sought to reshape the party’s internal leadership structure by proposing senior leader SP Velumani as the new AIADMK legislative party leader

The crisis within the AIADMK escalated sharply on Tuesday after senior party leader CV Shanmugam publicly backed Vijay as chief minister, accused Edappadi K Palaniswami of exploring support from the DMK to lead the state, and announced that rebel MLAs would support the incoming Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

Addressing reporters after a consultation meeting with dissident AIADMK legislators, Shanmugam said the faction had been informed that EPS could become chief minister “with the help of the DMK" following the fractured verdict.

“During these meetings, we were told that with the help of DMK, EPS will be made chief minister. We were asked to accept this decision. We opposed it. We felt it was wrong and conveyed this. They didn’t accept our views," Shanmugam said.

Calling the proposal a betrayal of the AIADMK’s ideological roots, he said the party was founded by MG Ramachandran as a political alternative to the DMK and later strengthened under J Jayalalithaa.

“This movement was started as a political opposition to DMK. Before us, there was an idea of supporting DMK. That proposal gave us great shock. We did not accept it," he said.

Shanmugam also made it clear that the rebel faction would not be part of any alliance arrangement involving the DMK. “We want to announce that AIADMK will not be part of any alliance," he said.

At the same time, the dissident camp formally extended support to TVK and Vijay, accepting the people’s mandate in the Tamil Nadu election. “The people of Tamil Nadu have given their mandate in favour of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and its leader Vijay as chief minister. AIADMK accepts the people’s verdict," Shanmugam said.

In a major political development, he announced that a resolution had been passed in the meeting to support Vijay’s government. “We want to extend support to TVK and Vijay," he said.

The rebel faction also sought to reshape the party’s internal leadership structure by proposing senior leader SP Velumani as the new AIADMK legislative party leader. “We want to appoint SP Velumani as the AIADMK legislative party leader," Shanmugam announced, even as Velumani attempted to downplay speculation of a formal split.

“We do not want to break the AIADMK; we will not split the party," Velumani said, adding that “AIADMK will never break."

Shanmugam repeatedly stressed that the dissident faction’s objective was to revive the party after its electoral setback rather than destroy it. “We fully accept the election defeat. This alliance has failed," he said. “AIADMK should be revived. The AIADMK led by MGR and Jayalalithaa should bounce back."

The developments come amid a widening internal rebellion in the AIADMK, with MLAs assembling in separate camps and growing demands for EPS to step down after the party’s poor electoral performance. AIADMK legislators aligned with the Shanmugam faction later left for the Assembly, signalling that the power struggle could soon play out on the House floor as well.

Meanwhile, sources said Vijay is scheduled to meet VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, Congress leaders and the rebel AIADMK faction led by Shanmugam on Tuesday, indicating that the TVK chief has begun formal political outreach to secure broader post-poll backing.

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