NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Friday advised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay not to include the rebel AIADMK group in his government, emphasizing that he must stay true to the electoral mandate. Speaking to news agency PTI, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram stated that the people voted for a government that excludes both the AIADMK and the DMK. He warned that inducting AIADMK MLAs into the government would erode the chief minister's goodwill and credibility.
Congress Leader's Statement
“Chief Minister Vijay does not need the support of any splinter group of AIADMK. In fact, the mandate is for a government that excludes both the AIADMK and the DMK. And he must stay true to that mandate and ignore the splinter group of AIADMK,” the Congress leader said. “And there is no reason for him to take them into the government. If they have voluntarily supported him in the vote of confidence, so be it. But there is no reason to bring them into government. In fact, I would urge him not to bring them into government,” he added.
Background of the Political Turmoil
This advice comes after 25 AIADMK MLAs voted in favor of Vijay’s government during the floor test, following an internal rift in the party. The political turmoil within the AIADMK intensified after senior leader C V Shanmugam publicly criticized former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), accusing him of weakening the organization and leading the party towards repeated electoral defeats since the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016.
“The defeat faced by the AIADMK in the recently concluded Assembly elections must be discussed. We need to deliberate and analyze the reasons behind these continuous defeats,” Shanmugam had said. He also alleged that the party’s founding ideology had been diluted under the present leadership and claimed that several senior leaders and functionaries had been removed from organizational positions.
Disciplinary Actions and Factional Divide
The EPS-led faction initiated disciplinary action against leaders accused of violating the party whip during the recent floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Several leaders, including C V Shanmugam and C Vijayabaskar, were removed from organizational posts. At present, Palaniswami has the support of 22 MLAs, while the rebel faction led by Velumani and Shanmugam is backed by 25 AIADMK legislators. Both factions have sought disqualification of each other’s MLAs under the anti-defection law over voting during the TVK government’s floor test.
Implications for the Government
The Congress leader's advice underscores the delicate balance of power in Tamil Nadu. The rebel AIADMK group's support was crucial for Vijay's government to pass the floor test, but bringing them into the cabinet could alienate voters who rejected both major parties. Political analysts suggest that Vijay must navigate this situation carefully to maintain his government's stability and public trust.
