Chennai: AIADMK appears to be headed for a vertical split, with rival factions staking claim to the post of legislative party leader in the 17th Tamil Nadu assembly.Soon after the newly elected MLAs took oath on Monday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami submitted a letter to pro-tem speaker M V Karuppaiah seeking his recognition as leader of the legislature party and Thalavai Sundaram as party whip. Later, the faction led by C Ve Shanmugam and S P Velumani, submitted separate representations to the pro-tem speaker to recognise Velumani as legislative party leader and C Vijayabaskar as whip. Sources in AIADMK said that eyeing a tie-up with TVK, the Velumani-Shanmugam camp is trying to get the support of at least 32 MLAs to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. “There is a plan to remove Edappadi K Palaniswami from the post of general secretary,” a source said. Sources in the secretariat said the EPS faction currently enjoys the backing of around 20 of the 47 AIADMK MLAs, while the Velumani-Shanmugam camp has the support of most of the rest. Despite the numbers favouring the rebels, officials indicated EPS could still have an advantage because he is party general secretary. “Palaniswami argued before the pro-tem speaker that, as AIADMK general secretary, he alone was authorised to function as legislature party leader and that party rules support his claim,” sources said.”The rival camp, however, countered by insisting that only a formal meeting of AIADMK MLAs could elect the leader. They submitted signatures of nearly 30 legislators backing Velumani.” Given the competing claims and the possibility of legal and political complications, sources said the pro-tem speaker was unlikely to take an immediate decision. The Palaniswami faction includes Agri S Krishnamurthy, O S Manian, Thalavai Sundaram and K C Karuppannan. The rival bloc has backing from Natham R Viswanathan, R Kamaraj, K C Veeramani and Balakrishna Reddy. The latest crisis marks the third major split in AIADMK’s history. The first followed the death of former chief minister M G Ramachandran in 1987, when the party split between factions led by his widow Janaki Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. The second major rupture came after Jayalalithaa’s death, when former chief minister O Panneerselvam rebelled in 2017 before eventually being expelled from the party in 2022.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’PM Modi Slams Destination Weddings Abroad, Urges Indians To Avoid Foreign Travel’Voted For Whistle’: MDMK Chief Vaiko’s House Helps’ Meeting With CM Vijay Goes ViralRahul Slams PM Modi’s Crisis Appeal | NIA Probes Bengaluru Security Scare IntensifyTMC Leaders Turn On I-PAC After Bengal Poll Rout, Raise Explosive Claims Against FirmAfter PM Modi’s ‘Save Oil’ Appeal, Rajnath Singh Chairs Key Energy Security Review Meeting’Deeply Shocking’: TVK Ally Questions Vijay Over Vande Mataram Priority At Oath CeremonyTVK Blames Governor’s Office As Tamil Anthem Row Explodes After Vijay’s Oath CeremonySC Asks Mamata To File Fresh Pleas Regarding Victory Margin Being Less Than SIR DeletionsCM Vijay Meets MK Stalin Amid Treasury Row, Fuels Buzz Over Tamil Nadu’s Political Reset123PhotostoriesGold price inflation: Trending alternatives to traditional gold jewellery in 2026Ripe vs Raw Papaya: Which has more nutrition and 5 ways to consume them during summerWhy Kumar Vishwas doesn’t keep these 2 things in his kitchen and shares his Aloo Tamatar Sabzi recipe10 wise quotes by Sudha Murty on love, life and marriageThese 10 daily habits could be the real reason you feel tired, stuck, and brokeAishwarya to Tara: Indian celebrities expected to shine at Cannes Film Festival 20265 stunning flowering plants that can cause Hay Fever7 shocking facts about lions that prove they are far more dangerous than most people think5 summer dinner sabzis you can make with just 2 tbsp of mustard oil10 things to do with your parents before it’s too late — Moments you’ll never regret123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultModi on buying goldOil prices todayPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingRCBYesterday Match ResultIPL Points TableUS Iran warTilak VarmaChandranath Rath MurderIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitPM Modi WFHPBKS vs DC Match Preview
Chennai: AIADMK appears to be headed for a vertical split, with rival factions staking claim to the post of legislative party leader in the 17th Tamil Nadu assembly.Soon after the newly elected MLAs took oath on Monday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami submitted a letter to pro-tem speaker M V Karuppaiah seeking his recognition as leader of the legislature party and Thalavai Sundaram as party whip. Later, the faction led by C Ve Shanmugam and S P Velumani, submitted separate representations to the pro-tem speaker to recognise Velumani as legislative party leader and C Vijayabaskar as whip. Sources in AIADMK said that eyeing a tie-up with TVK, the Velumani-Shanmugam camp is trying to get the support of at least 32 MLAs to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. “There is a plan to remove Edappadi K Palaniswami from the post of general secretary,” a source said. Sources in the secretariat said the EPS faction currently enjoys the backing of around 20 of the 47 AIADMK MLAs, while the Velumani-Shanmugam camp has the support of most of the rest. Despite the numbers favouring the rebels, officials indicated EPS could still have an advantage because he is party general secretary. “Palaniswami argued before the pro-tem speaker that, as AIADMK general secretary, he alone was authorised to function as legislature party leader and that party rules support his claim,” sources said.“The rival camp, however, countered by insisting that only a formal meeting of AIADMK MLAs could elect the leader. They submitted signatures of nearly 30 legislators backing Velumani.” Given the competing claims and the possibility of legal and political complications, sources said the pro-tem speaker was unlikely to take an immediate decision. The Palaniswami faction includes Agri S Krishnamurthy, O S Manian, Thalavai Sundaram and K C Karuppannan. The rival bloc has backing from Natham R Viswanathan, R Kamaraj, K C Veeramani and Balakrishna Reddy. The latest crisis marks the third major split in AIADMK’s history. The first followed the death of former chief minister M G Ramachandran in 1987, when the party split between factions led by his widow Janaki Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. The second major rupture came after Jayalalithaa’s death, when former chief minister O Panneerselvam rebelled in 2017 before eventually being expelled from the party in 2022.
