A faction of AIADMK MLAs led by CV Shanmugam announced support for the ruling coalition headed by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Tuesday [3].
This shift in loyalty could stabilize the TVK government in Chennai and further fracture the AIADMK, which has struggled to maintain its electoral dominance in Tamil Nadu.
CV Shanmugam and SP Velumani led the group of legislators in extending their support to the TVK administration [1]. The move comes after a period of significant political instability for the AIADMK. According to party representatives, the AIADMK suffered three electoral defeats to the DMK over the past decade [1].
The faction further cited a fourth defeat that occurred last month against the TVK as a primary driver for the decision [2]. The group said that the current trajectory of the party under its existing leadership was unsustainable.
Shanmugam said the decision to back Joseph Vijay followed a rejection of any potential alliance with the DMK [4]. The move signals a definitive break from previous strategic considerations as the faction seeks a new political alignment to avoid further losses.
The announcement was made in Chennai, marking a significant realignment of power within the state's legislative assembly [1]. While the TVK government now enjoys broader support from these former AIADMK members, the internal conflict within the opposition party continues to intensify.
“AIADMK suffered three electoral defeats to the DMK over the past decade”
The defection of a significant AIADMK faction to the TVK indicates a shift in the traditional bipolar power structure of Tamil Nadu politics. By absorbing elements of the AIADMK, Joseph Vijay's government is not only consolidating its legislative majority but also weakening a primary opposition pillar that has historically competed for the same voter base.
