AIADMK Rift Widens In Tamil Nadu Assembly As 30 MLAs Stay Away From EPS Camp

Fresh cracks have emerged within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after the party's newly elected MLAs appeared divided during the opening session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The internal conflict became visible on the very first day of the Assembly as AIADMK legislators reportedly arrived in separate groups for the oath-taking ceremony, signalling a growing power struggle inside the party.

The developments have raised serious questions over whether Edappadi K. Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, can continue to maintain complete control over the party leadership.

Only 17 MLAs Backed EPS

According to reports, only 17 out of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs signed a letter submitted to Interim Speaker Karuupaiah supporting Palaniswami as the Leader of the Opposition and legislature party leader.

The remaining 30 MLAs reportedly did not sign the proposal, exposing the scale of the division within the party.

Political observers say the numbers indicate that a strong faction inside the AIADMK is unhappy with the current leadership structure and is attempting to push for internal changes.

Rebel Camp Arrived Separately

The dissident faction was reportedly led by senior AIADMK leaders S. P. Velumani and C. Ve. Shanmugam.

Several senior leaders, including C. Vijayabaskar, were seen arriving separately from the EPS camp during the Assembly proceedings.

Adding further speculation to the crisis, Shanmugam reportedly skipped the oath-taking ceremony despite reaching the Assembly premises.

The separate arrival of MLAs and visible groupism inside the party highlighted the deepening tensions between the two camps.

What The Rebel Group Wants

Sources claimed that the rebel faction has placed multiple conditions before Palaniswami in exchange for continuing support. The demands reportedly include appointing Velumani as the Legislature Party Leader and Shanmugam as Deputy Leader.
The faction is also believed to be demanding the formation of a high-level committee to oversee important party decisions.

According to insiders, Palaniswami may have agreed to some of these demands in an attempt to prevent a bigger split inside the AIADMK.

Anti-Defection Law Becomes Crucial

The ongoing political crisis has also brought attention to India's anti-defection law.
Under the law, at least two-thirds of the legislature party must support a split for MLAs to avoid disqualification.

In the AIADMK's case, the rebel faction would require support from at least 32 of the party's 47 MLAs.

At present, reports suggest the dissident camp has the backing of around 30 MLAs, leaving them just two members short of the required number.

This has made the next few political moves extremely important for both factions.

Why The AIADMK Crisis Matters

The AIADMK has been facing internal leadership struggles for several years following the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
After her passing, the party witnessed repeated power battles involving different senior leaders.

Although Edappadi Palaniswami gradually emerged as the dominant face of the party, recent developments suggest dissatisfaction still exists among sections of the leadership.
Political analysts believe the latest split could affect the AIADMK's ability to function as a strong opposition force in Tamil Nadu.

Questions Over EPS Leadership

The latest developments have intensified speculation over Palaniswami's future as the undisputed leader of the AIADMK.

With a significant number of MLAs reportedly staying away from openly backing him, the party leadership may face increasing pressure to accommodate rival factions.

Observers believe the coming weeks could be crucial in deciding whether the AIADMK manages to stay united or witnesses another major internal political battle.
For now, the events inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly have clearly shown that the power struggle within the AIADMK is far from over.