A factional group of AIADMK led by SP Velumani and C.Ve. Shanmugam will arrive at the Secretariat on 12 May 2026. | Photo credit: SR Raghunathan
The rebel group All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by former ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and SP Velumani on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) declared their support for the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
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The decision was taken in light of the Assembly election verdict, former Law Minister Mr. Shanmugam said while interacting with the press in the presence of many of his colleagues, including Mr. Velumani, C. Vijayabhaskar and R. Kamaraj.
Mr. Shanmugam accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of trying to form a government after the election results with the support of the party’s arch-rival, the DMK. “It was a shock to us,” he said. Since the AIADMK was formed to oppose the DMK and has practiced politics primarily on that plank for all these years, any move to work with its rival would cause the party to “disappear”, noted Mr Shanmugam.
He said that Mr. Velumani was elected as the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party; G. Hari, Deputy Leader; Dr. Vijayabhaskar, whip; and Mr. Kamaraj, Secretary.
Mr Shanmugam and Mr Velumani said the reasons for the party’s back-to-back electoral setbacks must be analyzed as the AIADMK was expected to win the 2021 and 2026 parliamentary elections, apart from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “We have requested the general secretary to convene a general council meeting as soon as possible,” the former law minister noted. He added that “we are no longer in any pre-election alliance”.
Mr. Velumani asked the media not to spread rumors that his group was seeking to create a split in the party. “The elders of many of us have been in the party since the foundation of the organization,” he pointed out.
After addressing the media, the AIAMDK MLAs left for Fort St. George to attend the assembly meeting.
Of the total 47 AIADMK legislators, 30 are believed to be MLAs with the group led by Mr Shanmugam and Mr Velumani.
Published – 12 May 2026 09:50 IST
