The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) plunged into crisis on Tuesday as two party factions differed on supporting the ruling alliance led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and submitted rival claims of being the original outfit to the speaker.
Both sides claimed to be the real party – a replay of the crisis following former CM J Jayalalithaa’s death—but it was unclear just how many lawmakers each faction of the AIADMK had.
On Tuesday, TVK lawmaker JCD Prabhakar was elected speaker unanimously. Soon after the election, one faction led by senior leader CV Shanmugam elected SP Velumani as the AIADMK leader in the legislative assembly and former state minister C Vijayabhaskar as whip.
Hours later, former AIADMK minister OS Manian, flanked by senior party leaders, gave a letter to the speaker, declaring Palaniswami as the legislature party chief. “All the 47 (AIADMK) MLAs have signed a letter stating that Palaniswami is the leader of the legislature party,” he told media persons, after meeting the speaker.
The real strength of the two factions will become clear on Wednesday during the trust vote as Shanmugam said that more MLAs would join him.
Both factions claimed to be the real AIADMK – a claim the speaker, and ultimately the courts, will have to settle.
