Speculation Grows Over Possible Entry of Former AIADMK Leaders into TVK

Chennai, June 2026: Political circles in Tamil Nadu are abuzz with speculation that senior AIADMK leaders, including former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and C. Vijayabaskar, may soon join the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), further strengthening the party’s position in the state.

Reports suggest that the two leaders, along with a few other prominent figures from the opposition camp, could formally join the Vijay-led party at its Panaiyur headquarters on Sunday. Although no official confirmation has been issued by either side, the rumours have sparked intense political discussion across the state.

The developments come against the backdrop of significant political realignments following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the election, securing 107 seats in the 234-member Assembly. However, the party fell short of the 118 seats required for a simple majority and subsequently sought support from parties that had contested as part of the DMK-led alliance.

The first major breakthrough came when the Congress decided to support the TVK government, ending its association with the DMK alliance. In return, the party was accommodated in the government with two ministerial positions and later secured representation in the Rajya Sabha.

Other parties gradually followed suit. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which initially offered outside support to the government, later joined the administration and were allotted one ministerial berth each. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) and CPI have continued to back the government without seeking participation in the Cabinet.

Political tensions increased after AMMK General Secretary T. T. V. Dhinakaran alleged that his party’s MLA Kamaraj had been persuaded to support TVK through political negotiations.

Ahead of the crucial confidence vote in the Assembly, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reportedly held discussions with a dissident AIADMK faction led by C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani. During the trust vote, all 25 legislators aligned with the Velumani-Shanmugam group, along with the AMMK legislator, voted in favour of the TVK government.

Shortly thereafter, several AIADMK legislators, including Maragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar, Sathyabama and Isakki Subbiah, resigned from their positions in the party and formally joined TVK.

While some dissident leaders later returned to the AIADMK fold under the leadership of Edappadi K. Palaniswami, a number of influential figures remained outside the party structure. Among them were former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and C. Vijayabaskar, whose continued distance from the AIADMK leadership has fuelled speculation about their next political move.

Adding to the momentum, former minister Vellamandi Natarajan and several other leaders have already joined TVK in recent months. If the latest reports prove accurate, the entry of Shanmugam, Vijayabaskar and other senior leaders could further consolidate TVK’s position and reshape the opposition landscape in Tamil Nadu ahead of future political contests.

For now, political observers are closely watching developments at the TVK headquarters, where any formal induction could mark another significant chapter in the state’s evolving political dynamics.