The induction of former ministers, ex-MLAs and party functionaries is being projected by TVK as a sign of its growing organisational reach across Tamil Nadu.
Ever since three rebel AIADMK legislators resigned and defected to Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the principal Opposition DMK and the AIADMK, along with others, have attacked the ruling party, accusing it of blatant horse trading to shore up its majority in the Assembly.
During the trust vote held on May 13 for the Vijay government, 25 of the 47 AIADMK legislators, led by former ministers C. Ve. Shanmugam, S.P. Velumani and C. Vijayabhaskar, voted in favour of the government, triggering a split in the party.
There is a popular phrase, “so close, yet so far.” In fact, the current situation of the AIADMK breakaway faction reminds one of another adage: “all dressed up and nowhere to go.”
The VCK and the League also took a dig at the DMK for allegedly attempting to form a government in alliance with the AIADMK, disregarding the mandate in favour of actor-politician Vijay, whose TVK emerged as the single largest party.
Even as AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) called for unity during a meeting of district secretaries, parallel efforts appear to be underway within the party to reconcile differences between him and the dissident faction led by senior leader C.Ve. Shanmugam, amid concerns that continued infighting could weaken the party further.
The AIADMK’s internal tensions sharpened after rival groups intensified efforts to control district units, with Dindigul emerging as the latest centre of confrontation.
Rattled by persistent speculation that he was instrumental in the attempt to prop up a coalition government of traditional rivals, DMK and AIADMK, to deny the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of Vijay, which emerged as the single largest party, a shot at power, superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday clarified that he was not so cheap to indulge in such a move.
Senior AIADMK leaders have begun mobilising support against EPS, with rebels exploring party rules to trigger a major leadership confrontation after the 2026 poll setback.
Apprehensive of losing the membership of the House following voting in favour of the confidence motion of Chief Minister and TVK president Joseph Vijay, in violation of the party whip, the AIADMK rebels on Friday pleaded party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to call them for a dialogue to settle the differences.
