Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay met with AIADMK leader C. V. Shanmugam and several party rebels on Wednesday to secure support for his government.

The meeting comes at a critical juncture for the administration as it prepares for a scheduled trust vote and the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Securing the backing of AIADMK factions could stabilize Vijay's hold on power and shift the political landscape of the state.

Vijay visited the residence of C. V. Shanmugam, where he met with a group of AIADMK rebels. Thirty AIADMK leaders attended the gathering [1]. Among the senior figures present was S. P. Velumani, signaling a significant alignment between the Chief Minister's TVK party and dissident elements of the AIADMK.

C. V. Shanmugam confirmed the alliance during the visit. "Ready to back TVK," Shanmugam said [1]. He clarified the group's position regarding other potential partnerships, saying, "We have decided to support the Vijay-led government and will not join any DMK alliance" [2].

The move appears designed to isolate the DMK and create a formidable coalition of former AIADMK members, and TVK supporters. By integrating these rebels, Vijay is leveraging internal fractures within the AIADMK to strengthen his legislative position.

This strategic outreach occurs as the administration seeks to ensure a comfortable margin in the upcoming trust vote. The presence of high-ranking party officials like Velumani suggests that the shift in loyalty may extend beyond a few individuals to a broader faction of the party's leadership.

“Ready to back TVK”

The alignment between Chief Minister Vijay and AIADMK rebels indicates a strategic fragmentation of the opposition. By absorbing dissident AIADMK leaders, Vijay is not only securing the immediate numbers required to survive a trust vote but is also positioning his government to weaken the influence of both the AIADMK leadership and the DMK ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.