AIADMK under pressure to revisit its stand against ties with TVK

The AIADMK, which stated openly on Monday (May 4, 2026) that it would not support the regime likely to be formed by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), appears to be under pressure – both internally and externally – to revisit its stand. 

The tone for the reconsideration of the stance was set on Tuesday (April 5, 2026) by Leema Rose, the newly elected legislator from Lalgudi, who told the media that negotiations were in progress between AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the TVK over the formation of the government. When The Hindu attempted contacting her on Wednesday (May 6), she remained incommunicado. On Tuesday, there were also varying reports regarding the meeting between TVK general secretary ‘Bussy’ N. Anand and Mr. Palaniswami. The meeting, the details of which were not made public yet, did, in fact, take place on Wednesday.

Since Wednesday morning, sections of the AIADMK began spreading the word that a large chunk of MLA-elects was rallying behind former Law Minister, C.Ve. Shanmugam, who was elected to the House from Mailam, for the purpose of sharing power in the government. Mr. Shanmugam, who was not accessible to this journalist despite repeated efforts, however, later told reporters that it was for the party to take a call. 

Some of the new legislators, including L. Jayasudha and former Ministers K.P. Anbalagan and N. Thalaivai Sundaram, to whom this correspondent spoke, stated that when they all met the AIADMK general secretary on Tuesday to exchange plesantaries, there was neither discussion on the party’s stand vis-a-vis the likely TVK regime nor any signature campaign favouring the organisation’s support for the new government.

Mr. Shanmugam’s political stock seems to have gone up in the wake of the party’s abysmal performance in the western belt and moderate showing in the old North Arcot-South Arcot (NASA) region, covering the present districts of Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Villupuram. The party, which secured 47 seats all over the State, won 16 in the region. Mr Shamugam and his colleague, S.P. Velumani, held talks at the former’s residence before meeting Mr. Palaniswami. There are reports in sections of the media that the BJP is keen on the AIADMK supporting the TVK government to prevent any room for the Congress’ support.  

However, some functionaries of the AIADMK feel that, as their party and the TVK are on the same page with regard to opposing the DMK, they should come together. Besides, as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) post has gone to the DMK, there is no point in trying to find relevance for the party to remain in the opposition. It would be beneficial for the AIADMK to be “a part of the change” in the government. Such a move will be in sync with the “thinking” of 2.38 crore electors, who are less than 40 years of age and constitute the major chunk of changemakers, some office-bearers explain. 

There is also a view in the party that by becoming an ally of the TVK regime, the entire Opposition space will have to be ceded to the DMK as, after all, the TVK has grown, to some extent, at the expense of the AIADMK. A senior leader of the party in the western region says that the TVK’s senior leader and former School Education Minister K.A, Sengottaiyan is in contact with some of the MLAs of the AIADMK, triggering the talk that the Dravidian major is heading towards a split.

Only when Mr. Palaniswami personally makes clear his party’s position, will there be clarity.