Another AIADMK MLA may quit, day after 3 others joined Vijay's TVK
Another AIADMK MLA from the SP Velumani camp is likely to resign, sources said. The move would deepen the party's troubles after three legislators quit and joined Chief Minister Vijay's ruling TVK following the May 13 trust vote.
Another AIADMK MLA from the SP Velumani camp is likely to resign in another setback to the factionalism-ridden party a day after three legislators quit and joined the ruling TVK led by Chief Minister Vijay, sources said.
The MLA, whose name is not known yet, was among the 25 AIADMK legislators who had earlier defied the party whip and voted in favour of the TVK government during the May 13 trust vote, deepening internal rifts.
On Tuesday, three AIADMK MLAs -- Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama and Jayakumar -- resigned from the party and formally joined TVK, all of them being part of the Velumani-led faction.
With the latest exits, the strength of the rebel group is said to have come down from 25 to 17, even as reports suggest some MLAs are reconsidering their positions and may move back towards the EPS camp.
The latest develpments come barely two weeks after a group of 30 AIADMK MLAs, led by senior leader CV Shanmugam, extended support to Vijay's TVK, marking a significant realignment within the opposition ranks.
In the high-stakes April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the AIADMK secured 47 seats, while TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats but fell short of an absolute majority.
The TVK subsequently formed the government with support from Congress, IUML, VCK and Left parties, while a section of AIADMK MLAs later aligned with the ruling bloc.
The latest develpments come barely two weeks after a group of 30 AIADMK MLAs, led by senior leader CV Shanmugam, extended support to Vijay's TVK, marking a significant realignment within the opposition ranks.
In the high-stakes April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the AIADMK secured 47 seats, while TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats but fell short of an absolute majority.
The TVK subsequently formed the government with support from Congress, IUML, VCK and Left parties, while a section of AIADMK MLAs later aligned with the ruling bloc.
Meanwhile, internal contradictions within the rebel camp have since surfaced.
Last week, Velumani had denied any intent to split the party and reiterated that Edappadi K Palaniswami continues to be the AIADMK’s leader. He further clarified that neither he nor CV Shanmugam has sought any position in the TVK-led government.