CHENNAI: Rival factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Wednesday corrected and withdrew petitions seeking to exclude each other from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, signaling a truce nearly two weeks after internal discord emerged during the confidence vote for the ruling Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
Former minister SP Velumani, who led the rebel camp along with C V Shanmugam, met AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday at his Chennai residence along with several legislators and expressed support for his leadership. The leaders later met Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar and withdrew the disqualification petitions filed by both the factions under the anti-defection law.
The division emerged after 25 AIADMK MLAs led by the Velumani-Shanmugam camp supported the TVK government during the floor test on May 13, while legislators allied with Palaniswami opposed it. The development has sparked opposing petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs from both sides.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the Speaker, Velumani denied any division in the party and described the incident as a “difference of opinion”.
“After the elections, we expressed certain views and took some decisions that were considered supportive of the ruling party. They filed a petition demanding the disqualification of our members. Likewise, we also filed a petition for their disqualification. Now, both sides have withdrawn the petitions,” he said.
“There is no division in the AIADMK, as was expected in the media. There was only a difference of opinion, and the matter has now been rectified,” he added.
Velumani said Palaniswami continued to enjoy the support of party legislators.
“Edappadi K Palaniswami is still the general secretary of our party. Victory and defeat are normal in politics and within the party. There is no difference of opinion on that,” he said.
He said the faction urged Palaniswami to hold a general council meeting of the party and form a committee to review the party’s performance in the assembly elections scheduled for April 23.
“We have made our position clear and the ruling side has also made its position clear. We are all united. There are no opposing views. Everyone in the party remains united,” he said.
Speaker Prabhakar said he would announce his decision on the withdrawal petitions on Thursday based on the representations made by the AIADMK legislators.
The reconciliation comes after four AIADMK MLAs resigned from the rebel camp and joined the ruling TVK, reducing the party’s strength in the 234-member Assembly from 47 to 43.
