A faction of the AIADMK led by C.V. Shanmugam pledged support to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government on Tuesday [1].

This shift in allegiance bolsters the stability of the TVK administration in Tamil Nadu. The move follows the recent oath ceremony of Chief Minister Vijay, which took place on the preceding Sunday [2].

Shanmugam said in Chennai that his faction, which comprises about 30 MLAs [1], will support the TVK government. The announcement marks a formal divide within the AIADMK, with two clear factions now identified within the party [3].

Shanmugam said that the decision came after alliance talks with the DMK collapsed. He also leveled allegations against Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the leader of the opposing AIADMK faction, accusing him of moving closer to the DMK [3, 4].

The political realignment occurs as the TVK government seeks to consolidate power in the state assembly. By securing the support of a significant bloc of former AIADMK legislators, Vijay's administration reduces its reliance on other smaller coalitions, a move that may streamline legislative processes in the assembly.

Shanmugam said his group chose to back the TVK as a response to the current leadership direction of the AIADMK. The move effectively isolates Palaniswami's wing of the party from the current governing coalition [4].

“About 30 MLAs pledge support to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's TVK administration”

The defection of 30 AIADMK legislators to support the TVK government represents a major blow to Edappadi K. Palaniswami's leadership and signals a fragmentation of the traditional opposition in Tamil Nadu. By absorbing a significant portion of the AIADMK, Chief Minister Vijay not only strengthens his legislative majority but also disrupts the AIADMK's ability to function as a unified opposition force.