CHENNAI: In a dramatic political turnaround, AMMK MLA S Kamaraj on Tuesday extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, just days after alleging that his signature on a support letter had been forged. This development follows a rebel faction within the AIADMK that had earlier announced its support to the ruling TVK government.
Kamaraj's Statement in Assembly
Speaking in the Assembly, Kamaraj said he had decided to support the TVK government because the youth of Tamil Nadu had placed their trust in Vijay. “The youth of the state trust Vijay. I too trust him and have decided to support the TVK government,” Kamaraj stated. This announcement is significant as it comes amid continuing political realignments following the Assembly election, with Vijay’s TVK consolidating support from various factions and legislators.
Background of Allegations
Just days earlier, AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran had accused the TVK of “horse-trading” and alleged that the party had used a “forged” support letter in Kamaraj’s name while staking claim to form the government. Dhinakaran had lodged a formal complaint with the Guindy police, claiming the letter was fake and possibly AI-generated. He questioned the authenticity of a video released by TVK purportedly showing Kamaraj signing the letter inside a car. “I suspect TVK, in a desperate bid to form the government, may have indulged in horse-trading,” Dhinakaran had alleged, vowing legal action. At that time, Kamaraj had publicly denied supporting TVK and claimed the letter attributed to him was fabricated.
TVK's Response
TVK rejected all allegations, insisting that Vijay would never indulge in horse-trading or unethical political practices. The party maintained that all support extended to it was voluntary. Kamaraj’s latest endorsement is likely to intensify embarrassment for the AMMK leadership and further strengthen the TVK government politically.
Rebel AIADMK Faction
Earlier in the day, a rebel AIADMK faction led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam also announced support to the Vijay government, while escalating their rebellion against party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. The faction said it would formally submit a letter of support to Vijay and declared that the AIADMK should remain outside alliances for now while backing the TVK government.
This series of endorsements marks a significant shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, consolidating Vijay’s position as chief minister and exposing fractures within the opposition AMMK and AIADMK. The coming days are expected to see further realignments as parties navigate the post-election scenario.
