Cracks in AIADMK Show Up As Assembly Meets

The division among the 47 AIADMK MLAs was clearly visible even as they flocked to the Assembly to take the oath of office. It became clear that there were differences between them, as they came in two groups and expressed open hostility towards each other.

During the day, a group handed over a letter to the Pro-Tem spokesperson, urging him to nominate former Chief Minister and party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami as the party leader in the legislature.

Later, former Ministers CV Shanmugham and SP Velumani from the other group submitted a letter naming Velumani as the leader, claiming to have the support of 30 members. It is said that the group with maximum supporters will do what it wants, which may put Palaniswami in a difficult situation as he will have to comply with whip orders that may be appointed by the Velumani group.

This can only happen after the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip are appointed, as it is the Speaker who decides on the majority member group to determine the leader of the legislative party. JCD Prabhakar, who represents TVK’s Thousand Lights constituency and is a candidate for the post of Speaker of the Assembly, is likely to become the Speaker as there is no other candidate.

During the swearing-in ceremony of MLAs, Shanmugham, who represents Mailam constituency, was not in the Assembly and did not take oath when his name was mentioned. Later, at around 15.15, he took the oath in the Parliament Speaker’s hall.

The behavior of Shanmugham and other AIADMK MPs in the Assembly has indicated an impending split within the party and one of the factions is expected to openly support the TVK government when the trust vote is taken in the Assembly on May 13.

If at least two-thirds of the AIADMK MLAs leave to form an independent group and then support the TVK government, this will only add to the stability of the new regime as it will not have to depend on smaller parties with one or two MLAs to pass bills.

There is also a rumor that the AIADMK faction may seek a share in power instead of their support and its representatives may swear that Congress candidates may also be inducted into the Ministry during the upcoming Cabinet expansion in the coming days. VCK, IUML, CPM and CPI, which are other parties that support the TVK government from outside, have no intention of joining the Ministry.