AIADMK's Rebel MLAs Reunite With EPS Days After Support To TVK, Shanmugam's Stand Unclear

In a new political twist in Tamil Nadu politics, the rebel camp of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has reconciled with party general secretary Edappi K Palanisawami days after voting in favour of CM Joseph Vijay-led TVK government in the assembly floor test.

Velumani, one of the leaders of the rebel group, met Palaiswami with 13 MLAs. However, V Shanmugam, another rebel group leader, was absent from the meeting.

Soon after meeting EPS, Velumani, accompanied by former minister Dr C Vijayabaskar, legislators supporting him, and senior leaders, including Agri SS Krishnamurthy, who support Palaniswami, called on Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar and submitted a letter stating that they would function as one party in the Assembly.

Velunami said that all differences had ceased and that their main concern was a review of the poll defeat. He rejected any desire for position.

"We wanted the AIADMK poll defeat to be reviewed; falsely accused of desiring a position," Velumani said. He also added that he met Assembly Speaker Prabhakar and withdrew the petition seeking disqualification under the anti-defection law.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Writes To PM Modi Opposing Karnataka’s Mekedatu Project; What’s The Cauvery Row?

Vijayabaskar also withdrew his earlier letter requesting Speaker Prabhakar to recognise him as party whip.

As many as 25 AIADMK MLAs had voted in favour of the TVK government during the floor test, defying the party whip. The incident had triggered a political firestorm in the state as the third-biggest Dravida party was looking towards another potential split within 10 years. 

Out of the 25 rebel MLAs, three AIADMK legislators, Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama and S Jayakumar, had resigned from the Assembly and formally joined Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's TVK, making way for bypolls in four constituencies, including CM Vijay's second seat, Trichy East, from where he has resigned.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu: VCK And DMK Cadres Clash In Perambalur; Heavy Police Security Deployed

AIADMK had criticised the Speaker for accepting their resignation, as a petition for their disqualification was pending with him.