AIADMK faction led by C.Ve. Shanmugam declares support to TVK; says EPS wanted to be CM with DMK support

A rebel group of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by former Ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) declared its support to the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. 

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The decision had been made in the light of the Assembly election verdict, former Law Minister Mr Shanmugam said, interacting with the press in the presence of many of his colleagues including Mr S P Velumani, C. Vijayabhaskar and R. Kamaraj. 

He accused the general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of having attempted to form a government with the support of the party’s traditional adversary, DMK. “This was a shock to us.” As the AIADMK was established to oppose the DMK and it had been practising politics all these years only on this plank, any move to collaborate with its rival would render “the party’s disappearance,” Mr Shanmugam observed.

He said Mr Velumani had been elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party; G. Hari – deputy leader; Dr Vijayabhaskar – whip and Mr Kamaraj – Secretary.

Mr Shanmugam and Mr Velumani said reasons should be analysed for successive electoral setbacks, as the party should have won in the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections, besides the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “We have requested the general secretary to convene a meeting of the general council as early as possible,” the former Law Minister observed. He added that “we are no longer in any pre-poll alliance.”

Mr Velumani requested the media not to spread the word that his group was seeking to create a split in the party. “Elders of many of us were with the party since the launch of the organisation,” he pointed out.

After addressing the media, they all left for Fort St George to attend the day’s Assembly sitting.

It is believed of a total of 47 legislators of the AIADMK, 30 MLAs are with the group led by Mr Shanmugam and Mr Velumani.