Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay met with a group of rebel AIADMK lawmakers in Chennai on Tuesday to secure legislative support [1, 2].
This meeting comes at a critical juncture as Vijay prepares for a floor test scheduled for Wednesday. The support of these lawmakers could determine the stability of his government following the April 23, 2026, assembly elections [1, 3].
Reports indicate that approximately 30 AIADMK MLAs have extended their support to Vijay and his party, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) [3]. Among the rebel leaders present were K. Shanmugam, S.P. Velumani, and C. Ve Shanmugam [1, 2]. K. Shanmugam, a rival of AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, said he was "ready to back TVK" [1].
The shift in loyalty follows a disappointing showing for the AIADMK in the April polls. The party won only 47 of the 164 seats it contested, a result that prompted some lawmakers to seek alternative alliances [1, 4].
However, the central AIADMK leadership has rejected the legitimacy of this move. An AIADMK spokesperson said that "Alliance decisions could not be taken by a handful of MLAs and the party cadre remained firmly behind Edappaddi K Palaniswami" [2].
The internal rift within the AIADMK has created a volatile environment ahead of the trust vote. While the rebel faction continues to coordinate with the Chief Minister, the party's official stance is that the organization remains loyal to Palaniswami [2, 4].
“ready to back TVK”
The potential defection of 30 AIADMK lawmakers represents a significant blow to the opposition's cohesion and a strategic gain for Chief Minister Vijay. By absorbing a faction of the AIADMK, Vijay not only strengthens his numerical position for the upcoming floor test but also exploits the internal instability of a traditional power player in Tamil Nadu politics following its poor electoral performance in April.
