CM Vijay visits rebel AIADMK MLAs leader Shanmugam, who backs his government

Chennai, May 12 (PTI) In a surprise political manoeuvre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visited AIADMK MLA C Ve Shanmugam at his residence here on Tuesday evening following the support extended by his faction to the TVK-led government.

Vijay was greeted by party veterans S P Velumani, C Vijayabaskar, Natham Viswanthan, K P Anbalagan, and others with bouquets.

The recent poll debacle has led to a split within the AIADMK, with one faction headed by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamy and another by senior party leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam.

Claiming the backing of 30 MLAs, the Shanmugam camp extended support to TVK.

Secretariat sources said Shanmugam also met the speaker and submitted a formal letter of support to TVK.

As AIADMK braces for further upheaval, the party’s general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has remained silent regarding his next move.