Chennai, May 12, 2026: Tamil Nadu politics witnessed a major shake-up on Tuesday after a powerful rebel faction within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) officially announced support for the newly elected Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
The faction, led by former ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani, made the announcement shortly after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results, where TVK secured a significant victory.
The move is being seen as one of the biggest internal crises for the AIADMK in recent years, as nearly 30 of the party’s 47 MLAs are now reportedly aligned with the rebel camp.
C.Ve. Shanmugam Says Rebel Group Has Broken Away from Pre-Poll Alliance
Addressing reporters in Chennai, former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam stated that his faction no longer recognizes the earlier alliance structure under the official AIADMK leadership.
“We are no longer in any pre-poll alliance,” Shanmugam said during the press conference, where he was joined by S.P. Velumani, C. Vijayabhaskar, and R. Kamaraj.
The faction also announced new leadership positions within its legislative group:
- S.P. Velumani appointed as legislature party leader
- G. Hari named deputy leader
- Dr. Vijayabhaskar appointed whip
- R. Kamaraj selected as secretary
The declaration of support to the TVK government is expected to strengthen the ruling party’s numbers inside the Assembly.
Rebel Leaders Accuse EPS of Trying to Align with DMK
In a major political allegation, C.Ve. Shanmugam accused AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) of attempting to seek support from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after the election results.
According to Shanmugam, the possibility of a post-poll understanding with the DMK deeply disturbed several senior AIADMK leaders.
The AIADMK was created to oppose the DMK. Any effort to join hands with them would go against the party’s ideology, he said.
The rebel leader further claimed that attempts to secure the Chief Minister’s post through DMK support became one of the key reasons behind the internal revolt.
The official AIADMK leadership has not yet issued a detailed response to these allegations.
S.P. Velumani Denies Reports of Official Split
While acknowledging differences with the current leadership, S.P. Velumani denied that the group was attempting to formally divide the party.
“Our families and supporters have been connected with AIADMK since its foundation. We are not trying to create a split,” Velumani said.
However, the rebel faction demanded that EPS immediately convene a general council meeting to review the party’s recent electoral performances.
The leaders questioned AIADMK’s losses in:
- Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021
- Lok Sabha Elections 2024
- Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026
They argued that the party leadership must answer for repeated electoral setbacks.
TVK Government Gets Stronger Support in Assembly
Political observers believe the support from the rebel AIADMK faction could significantly strengthen the TVK government in Tamil Nadu.
With around 30 MLAs now backing the Shanmugam-Velumani group, the official AIADMK camp led by EPS is reportedly left with a much smaller legislative presence.
Following the announcement, the rebel MLAs attended Assembly proceedings separately at Fort St. George, signaling operational independence from the official AIADMK structure.
What This Means for Tamil Nadu Politics
The latest political developments could reshape opposition politics in Tamil Nadu ahead of future elections. Analysts believe the growing divide inside AIADMK may benefit both the ruling TVK and rival parties in the state.
The situation also raises important questions about the future leadership of AIADMK and whether reconciliation between the factions remains possible.
As political tensions continue to rise, all eyes are now on the next moves of EPS, the TVK leadership, and the rebel faction.
Further developments are expected in the coming days as the political landscape in Tamil Nadu continues to evolve rapidly.
