AIADMK leader C. V. Shanmugam said Tuesday that his faction will support the government led by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay [1].
The move signals a deepening rift within the AIADMK, potentially altering the balance of power in Tamil Nadu by shifting legislative support away from established party leadership toward a newer political force.
Shanmugam said the decision follows the collapse of alliance talks with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) [2]. According to Shanmugam, these negotiations failed because Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the former AIADMK chief, was moving closer to the DMK [2].
This political shift has resulted in two clear factions within the AIADMK [1]. Shanmugam said the former chief's actions prompted his faction to seek an alternative partnership with the TVK [1].
The alignment with C. Joseph Vijay's party marks a strategic departure from previous party trajectories. By backing the TVK-led government, Shanmugam's group is explicitly rejecting a formal partnership with the DMK, which remains a dominant force in the region's politics [2].
Shanmugam said his faction's support for the TVK is a direct response to the current internal leadership crisis and the perceived ideological shift of the party's other wing [1]. The developments in Chennai highlight the volatility of coalition politics in the state as factions reorganize ahead of future electoral cycles [1].
“AIADMK leader C. V. Shanmugam said Tuesday that his faction will support the government led by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam.”
The split of the AIADMK into two distinct factions weakens the party's unified bargaining power in Tamil Nadu. By pivoting to support the TVK, Shanmugam is not only challenging Palaniswami's leadership but is also legitimizing the TVK as a viable governing entity. This realignment suggests a fragmentation of the traditional opposition, which may allow the DMK to maintain a stronger grip on power despite the internal turmoil of its rivals.
