Vijay faces first test: Will TVK accept support from Velumani-led AIADMK MLAs?

With the AIADMK split underway, the ruling TVK coalition in Tamil Nadu could get the  support of 30 AIADMK MLAs from the SP Velumani-led faction, according to reports.  Former law minister and AIADMK senior leader C.Ve. Shanmugam, who supports SP  Velumani, announced on Tuesday that their faction will support the Vijay government.

Shanmugan, accompanied by Velumani and several other former ministers, including  Natham R. Viswanathan and R. Kamaraj, presented a letter before the pro-tem Speaker on Monday claiming the support of 30 MLAs for Velumani's leadership. "We have selected former minister SP Velumani as the AIADMK legislative committee chairman. C. Vijayabaskar has been selected as the whip, Hari as the deputy chairman of the legislative committee, and former minister Kamaraj as the secretary. Based on this, we have given a letter to the temporary speaker," said. Shanmugam.

Shanmugan on Tuesday announced his decision to support the TVK government.“The people have voted for Vijay to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the recently concluded assembly elections. The AIADMK welcomes that decision with full respect. During the post-election consultations, the party’s General Secretary Palaniswami put forward some proposals to us,” Shanmugan told reporters, adding that Palaniswami said that the DMK agreed to elect him as the Chief Minister with the MK Stalin-led party supporting from outside.

“Palaniswami said we should agree to that, but none of the MLAs agreed to this. Our party was started against the DMK, and we have been doing politics against that party  for the past 53 years. We were all shocked. We said that if they merged with DMK,  AIADMK would cease to exist. But they refused to accept that. AIADMK has suffered a crushing defeat in this election under the leadership of the National Democratic Alliance. We fully accept that. We are not blaming anyone,” Shanmugan said,

“AIADMK is no longer in any alliance that existed before the elections. This party must  be saved. We have passed a resolution, signed by the majority of members, stipulating that a new alliance be formed. As per the resolution, it has been decided in the meeting of AIADMK legislative members to support the TVK led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay,” he said.

Will Vijay accept AIADMK support?

The TVK is currently in power with the support of Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left Parties. Vijay had mentioned that his goal was to form a secular government, and hence decided not to align with the AIADMK, which was in alliance with the BJP.

While the Congress directly joined hands with the TVK, it imposed a condition that  religious forces should not be included in the alliance. Following this, the smaller parties which were with the DMK announced that they would provide external support to form the Vijay government. At the same time, they have also stated that they will continue in the DMK-led alliance.

If Vijay accepts the conditions laid down by Congress, he will not be able to accept the support offered by Velumani-led AIADMK MLAs. Will Vijay do something that displeases  the Congress, which was the first party to support him?

Another important factor that could jeopardise his position is the multiple bribery cases pending against several AIADMK leaders, who are currently in the faction. During the campaign, Vijay had offered to provide a transparent government free from bribery and corruption. In such a situation,including them in his ministry would be a violation of his principle and political promise.