Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | AIADMK MLAs lodged in Puducherry resort as government formation delayed in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: As Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) struggles to form the next government in Tamil Nadu, the “infamous” resort politics is back in the state. But it is not the TVK that has parked its MLAs in a luxurious resort in neighbouring Puducherry, but the AIADMK, which has been pushed to the third spot.

At least 15 AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to former minister C V Shanmugam are staying at Shore Thrishvam, a beach resort in Ariyankuppam in Puducherry. More MLAs are expected to reach the resort on Thursday.

Sources told DH that Shanmugam, who delivered the Vanniyar-dominated northern Tamil Nadu for the AIADMK, wants the party to support TVK form the government and has been exerting pressure on general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in this regard. However, Palaniswami seems to have told Shanmugam and other leaders that there is no need to extend support to TVK unless the fledgling party asks for it.

Not just Shanmugam, another senior leader S P Velumani is also understood to be in favour of supporting TVK. “They are pressurising EPS by taking their MLAs to a resort. Let us see what happens,” a top source in AIADMK told DH.

These leaders feel the AIADMK should support TVK to be relevant in Tamil Nadu politics as the DMK has emerged as the principal opposition party. “We have to be relevant, and the only way to keep us relevant is to support TVK from outside or by joining the ministry,” a senior leader said.

The leader said they expected Palaniswami to understand the new realities and agree to their suggestion. “Both Shanmugam and Velumani claim to have the support of 28 MLAs. To break away without attracting the anti-defection law, they need about 32 MLAs. No one is talking about breaking away for now, but the situation is precarious,” the leader added.

Tamil Nadu experienced resort politics for the first time in 2017 after the then Chief Minister O Panneerselvam rebelled against V K Sasikala following her election as the AIADMK Legislature Party leader. MLAs owing allegiance to Sasikala were lodged at a resort in Koovathur near Chennai for over a week. In fact, the AIADMK legislature party met at the resort on February 14, 2017, to elect Palaniswami as its leader.