Chennai, May 13:
The political crisis inside the AIADMK has escalated sharply, with reports of a widening internal split and rebel MLAs openly distancing themselves from party leadership ahead of the crucial no-confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The emerging factional battle—already being described in political circles as “Dharmayudham 2.0”—signals a fresh round of turbulence for the party following recent electoral setbacks.
According to developments reported from Chennai, senior leaders including C Ve Shanmugam have indicated that a section of AIADMK MLAs, aligned against party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, have decided to support the ruling side led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the no-confidence motion.
The rebel group is said to have taken the position after internal consultations, with strong criticism of the leadership and concerns over post-poll strategy.
They have also reportedly argued that any alignment with rival parties would contradict the AIADMK’s founding ideological stance, originally shaped by MGR and later strengthened under J Jayalalithaa.
Internal clash over leadership strategy
The dispute has intensified after allegations emerged that discussions were made about a possible political arrangement involving the DMK to install Palaniswami as Chief Minister—claims that triggered strong resistance within the rebel camp.
Leaders such as S P Velumani have publicly denied any intent to weaken or split the party, while simultaneously calling for a broader review of electoral failures and immediate convening of the party’s general council.
The faction has also reportedly elected its own legislative leadership structure and submitted separate communications to the Assembly authorities, further deepening the institutional divide within the party.
With both factions claiming legitimacy and submitting competing leadership lists, attention has shifted to the Speaker of the Assembly, whose decision could determine the fate of the MLAs during the no-confidence motion.
Three scenarios are being widely discussed:
If the Speaker recognises the Palaniswami-led group, the official party whip would apply, potentially triggering anti-defection proceedings for any dissenting vote.
If the rebel faction is recognised based on numerical strength, they could independently support the government without immediate procedural hurdles.
If the decision is deferred for legal consultation, MLAs may temporarily function without binding whip directions, allowing greater voting flexibility.
The situation has revived memories of earlier splits within the AIADMK, particularly the post-2017 leadership crisis following the death of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran’s political legacy era and the factional battle that followed the demise of J Jayalalithaa.
With rival camps now openly staking claims and legislative numbers in flux, political observers say the party is once again entering a high-stakes phase of internal realignment, with outcomes in the Assembly expected to shape its future trajectory significantly.