AIADMK Faces Internal Rift as Majority of MLAs Back SP Velumani Over Edappadi Palaniswami

A major internal conflict appears to have surfaced within the AIADMK after reports indicated that only 17 MLAs supported party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) for the post of AIADMK Legislature Party leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The development comes after all newly elected MLAs took oath as members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday (May 11). Except for C.V. Shanmugam, all AIADMK candidates who won in the recently concluded Assembly elections were sworn in as MLAs.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, a group of 17 AIADMK MLAs, including Thalavai Sundaram, O.S. Manian, Agri Krishnamoorthy, and Maragatham Kumaravel, reportedly submitted letters to temporary Assembly Speaker Karuppaiah and the Assembly Secretary expressing support for Edappadi Palaniswami to be elected as the leader of the AIADMK legislative party.

However, political sources revealed that out of the party’s total 47 MLAs, as many as 36 legislators are believed to have extended support to senior leader S.P. Velumani for the legislature party leader post.

Reports further suggest that these MLAs signed letters backing S.P. Velumani as legislature party leader and C.V. Shanmugam as deputy leader.

The developments have exposed growing divisions within the AIADMK, with a majority of MLAs now reportedly standing against Edappadi Palaniswami’s leadership.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that C.V. Shanmugam is expected to hold discussions with AIADMK leaders including S.P. Velumani, R. Kamaraj, C. Vijayabaskar, and Neyveli Rajendran regarding the unfolding political situation inside the party.

The leadership battle has created major uncertainty within the AIADMK, and further political developments are expected in the coming days.