Tamil Nadu Today: AIADMK rebel MLAs declare support for TVK

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Senior AIADMK leader C.Ve. Shanmugam, along with the group of rebel MLAs, addressing journalists at his residence in Chennai on May 12, 2026 | Photo Credit: J. Johan Sathyadas

A rebel group of the AIADMK, led by former Ministers C.Ve. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani, declared its support to the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. Mr. Shanmugam accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of having attempted to form a government with the support of the party’s traditional adversary, the DMK, in the aftermath of the election results.

Reacting sharply within hours, the AIADMK, in a post on X, accused the rebels of betraying about 1.34 crore voters who voted for the AIADMK alliance led by Mr. Palaniswami. It further stated that the organisation does not belong to a few MLAs and it is a movement of party workers.

Later in the day, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay who continued to call on leader from various political parties for the second day, visited the residence-office of Mr. Shanmugam and met the other AIADMK MLAs in the rebel camp.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) J.C.D. Prabhakar, who represents the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai, was on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

M. Ravisankar, the Thuraiyur constituency legislator, was elected unanimously as the Deputy Speaker. No other nominations were received for either post, barring theirs.

Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.TV. Dhinakaran announced the expulsion of his party’s lone legislator, S. Kamaraj, of Mannargudi constituency, from the organisation for “anti-party activities.”

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kamaraj, while speaking in the Assembly to welcome the election of Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, extended his support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

In a surprise move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay ordered the closure of 717 State-run liquor shops (TASMAC