AIADMK’s internal differences came into the open on Monday as party legislators arrived in two separate groups for the MLA oath-taking ceremony, triggering shock among party members.
Following the party’s defeat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, a section of senior leaders has raised objections to former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). Former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani reportedly held a separate consultation with MLAs who have taken a stand against EPS.
According to the report, the group argued that EPS should not continue as the leader of the Assembly party and suggested maintaining a cordial approach towards Vijay’s party, including the possibility of an alliance. EPS is said to have rejected these proposals, after which the party’s legislators began functioning as two camps.
The split was visible at the Assembly on the day of the oath-taking. Instead of waiting to enter together with EPS as is customary, AIADMK MLAs went in separately. EPS was accompanied by only a few, including Thalavai Sundaram, Agri Krishnamoorthy, Karuppannan and O.S. Manian, while Velumani and Vijayabaskar arrived later with another set of MLAs.
With both groups avoiding conversation and moving independently, cadres who witnessed the scenes said they were worried about what the widening rift could mean for the party’s future.
