Tamil Nadu CM Vijay visits AIADMK's Shanmugam as 30 rebel MLAs to back TVK amid split in party

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visited the office of AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam on Tuesday, and met SP Velumani and other party leaders as 30 rebel MLAs extended support to TVK.

A rebel AIADMK faction led by C Ve Shanmugam has declared support to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Shanmugam said this was the decision of the majority AIADMK MLAs.

About 30 MLAs, led by senior leaders SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, are believed to be in the rebel camp that has questioned Edappadi K Palaniswami's leadership following the party's debacle in the April 23 assembly polls, where it won only 47 out of the 164 seats it contested.

Shanmugam further said they would meet C Joseph Vijay to provide a letter supporting his government. He also alleged that party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami wanted to form a government with the DMK's support.

The opposition AIADMK appeared headed for a split on May 12 after a group of MLAs revolted against party chief Palaniswami, accusing him of seeking an alliance with archrival DMK, and announced support for the Vijay-led government ahead of the floor test on May 13.

(With PTI inputs)