AIADMK sacks CV Shanmugam, others from party posts after split over trust vote

The action came hours after a section of AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the trust vote, helping Vijay comfortably prove his majority on the Assembly floor.

In Short

• 25 AIADMK MLAs backed TVK government, aiding Vijay's majority
• Rebel leader Shanmugam accused EPS of abandoning ideology
• AIADMK chief appointed new district secretaries after sacking rebels

The crisis inside the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) deepened on Wednesday after party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami removed rebel leaders, including SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, following cross-voting in favour of Vijay’s government during the Assembly floor test.

A total of 29 AIADMK leaders, including 13 sitting MLAs, have been removed from various party posts, including district secretary positions. Apart from Shanmugam and Velumani, several senior AIADMK leaders, including R Kamaraj, C Vijayabhaskar, Thangamani, KP Anbazhagan, KC Veeramani, and MR Vijayabhaskar, have also been relieved of their posts.

The action came hours after 25 AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the trust vote, helping Vijay comfortably prove his majority on the Assembly floor.

The TVK-led government, which had fallen short of the halfway mark after winning 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, secured outside backing from Congress, Left parties, IUML and the rebel faction within the AIADMK, eventually winning the floor test with support from 144 MLAs.

EPS VS REBELS IN ASSEMBLY

Meanwhile, high drama unfolded inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly during Chief Minister Vijay’s floor test after Palaniswami made a major claim that AIADMK MLAs were allegedly offered cash and ministerial berths to vote in favour of the TVK chief.

While Palaniswami declared that all 47 AIADMK MLAs would oppose the motion supporting Vijay, Velumani from the rebel faction openly pledged support for him.

“We oppose the resolution. All AIADMK MLAs will vote against it,” the former chief minister said, adding, “Forty-seven candidates won under the Twin Leaves symbol. Around 66 percent of people did not vote for the TVK.”

However, the proceedings took an unexpected turn when Speaker JCD Prabhakar allowed AIADMK MLA SP Velumani to speak immediately after Palaniswami, a move strongly opposed by his supporters.

Exuding complete defiance to the party line decided by Palaniswami, Velumani openly vowed support to Vijay. "Respecting the wish of the people, the AIADMK supports the Confidence Motion brought by CM", he said.

REBELS SLAM EPS AFTER TRUST VOTE

Soon after the trust vote, senior AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam publicly rebelled against Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, accusing him of abandoning the party’s core anti-DMK ideology.

“There is a demand in the party, even before the election — all who have left or all who were expelled should be readmitted so that the party can be strengthened and win the election. But he has no such idea,” Shanmugam said.

Rejecting allegations of betrayal and violation of party discipline, the rebel leader claimed it was EPS who had moved away from the AIADMK’s foundational politics.

“I have not betrayed. Our party’s basic principle is to wipe out the DMK. For the past 50 years, we have been fighting against the DMK,” he said.

“But as the general secretary of the AIADMK, after being defeated in the election, to become CM went low and forgot the basic principles of AIADMK,” he added.

AIADMK: THE WAY AHEAD

With the faction led by Shanmugam and Velumani openly backing the TVK government, the party’s internal battle has moved from speculation to open confrontation.

The split raises questions over AIADMK’s unity, leadership and its role in the opposition space, especially as the state heads toward future electoral contests.

If the divide widens, Tamil Nadu could witness a major realignment, with Vijay’s government potentially gaining from a fractured opposition and shifting alliance equations.

- Ends