Supermajority in sight? CM Vijay meets AIADMK leaders to solidify TVK's grip on power
Chennai: The political landscape of Tamil Nadu underwent a seismic realignment on Tuesday as Chief Minister Vijay convened with a powerful dissident faction of the AIADMK, a move that could provide his Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) administration with a legislative supermajority.
The high-profile meeting included veteran leaders C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani. Reports indicate that approximately 30 lawmakers aligned with the Shanmugam-Velumani bloc have signalled their intent to formally bolster the TVK government.
The defection would leave the primary opposition party, the AIADMK, fractured. Only 17 MLAs currently remain committed to Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), acknowledging him as the leader of the legislature party. This internal schism marks a major deterioration in the relationship between the party’s established power centres and its current executive leadership.
The Numbers Game
The arithmetic of the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly appears to have shifted decisively in favour of the Chief Minister.
- Majority Mark: 118 seats
- Current TVK Strength: Approximately 115–120 seats
- Projected Strength: 145–150 seats with rebel support
Such a formal alliance would provide Vijay with a substantial cushion of over 25 seats beyond the majority mark, effectively insulating his administration from the political demands of smaller coalition entities.
Amidst these shifts, Vijay visited the office of C.V. Shanmugam on Tuesday. The Chief Minister was greeted warmly by senior AIADMK figures, including Shanmugam and Velumani, further suggesting a migration of elected officials toward Shanmugam’s leadership.
Internal Disputes and Legal Threats
The split has drawn a sharp response from the faction loyal to Palaniswami. AIADMK MLA Thalavai N. Sundaram refuted Shanmugam’s allegations regarding a supposed secret arrangement between EPS and the DMK, threatening litigation should a formal party division occur.
"All the statements given by CV Shanmugam are false. They want a berth with the TVK. We will take legal action (if MLAs split). We met the Speaker regarding many issues. We have given a list of MLAs to the Speaker. NDA alliance is present," Sundaram said.
Conversely, Shanmugam asserted that the majority of his party’s membership rejected any collaboration with the DMK, citing the AIADMK's founding principles.
"We started this party against the DMK. For 53 years, we did politics against the DMK. In such a situation, the proposal that an AIADMK government would be formed with the support of the DMK was one that the majority of members did not accept and instead opposed. If we join an alliance with the DMK, then the AIADMK will vanish. They didn't accept it. We decided to support the TVK, which got the victory," Shanmugam stated.
Speculation regarding the fracture intensified after several MLAs gathered at Shanmugam’s residence following an election cycle in which the AIADMK secured only 47 seats. Members of the dissident faction were reportedly relocated to a private resort in Puducherry as the legislative session approached.
Coalition Consolidation
In anticipation of a critical floor test, Vijay has engaged in a series of strategic meetings to shore up his majority. The actor-turned-politician visited the state Congress headquarters and met with VCK President Thol. Thirumavalavan at his residence in Velachery.
The TVK-led coalition recently gained momentum following the "unconditional support" of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). With two seats from the IUML, the total number of legislators supporting Vijay reached 121, exceeding the 118-seat requirement. The current governing bloc consists of the TVK’s primary strength supplemented by the Congress (5 seats), as well as two seats each from the CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML.