AIADMK, one of Tamil Nadu’s principal political parties, has plunged into a fresh internal crisis as senior leaders openly revolted against party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), raising strong indications of another major split within the party. Political analysts believe the growing rebellion could significantly alter the opposition landscape in the state at a crucial political juncture.
The latest turmoil surfaced during a key meeting chaired by EPS on Saturday, where senior leaders and former ministers including C.V. Shanmugam, S.P. Velumani, and C. Vijayabaskar reportedly expressed sharp dissatisfaction over the party leadership’s functioning. Tensions escalated after a heated argument broke out between EPS and C.V. Shanmugam regarding support for actor-politician Vijay becoming Chief Minister and over the allocation of Assembly committee leadership responsibilities. In a dramatic development, Shanmugam and Velumani walked out of the meeting midway, exposing the widening rift within the party.
Following the walkout, the dissenting faction quickly moved to strengthen its position by holding a parallel meeting at Shanmugam’s office in Chennai. The gathering was attended by nearly 38 MLAs along with several district secretaries, signaling substantial support for the rebel camp. According to party sources, the faction has decided to propose S.P. Velumani as Legislature Committee Chairman and C.V. Shanmugam as Deputy Chairman, while a letter signed by 38 MLAs is reportedly being prepared in support of the move. Speculation is also mounting that nearly 60 percent of party MLAs and senior leaders are backing the Shanmugam camp.
The political tension further intensified on Sunday as both factions conducted separate meetings in Chennai, creating confusion among party cadres. While EPS reportedly considered disciplinary action, including the possible expulsion of Shanmugam and Velumani for preparing to support Vijay, another parallel meeting led by Shanmugam was attended by key leaders including Vijayabaskar. Political circles strongly believe that the rebel faction may vote in favour of Vijay during the crucial political developments expected on May 13, when the newly formed government is likely to face an important test of strength.
Sensing that the crisis was spiraling out of control, EPS initiated damage-control efforts by dispatching a five-member mediation team comprising Salem Elangovan, Agri Krishnamurthy, Dalavai Sundaram, and R.B. Udayakumar to hold talks with C.V. Shanmugam. The delegation reportedly conveyed EPS’s willingness to discuss the dissenting faction’s demands and work towards reconciliation. However, sources suggest that Shanmugam politely rejected the peace proposal, and with reconciliation attempts failing, strong indications are emerging that AIADMK could once again formally split into two factions.