AIADMK Split on Display as Rebel Faction Backs Government in Trust Vote

Chennai: The AIADMK's split was on full display on Wednesday during the floor test. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the party was opposing the trust vote moved by Vijay and that all 47 AIADMK MLAs would vote against the newly elected government. However, more than half that number led by SP Velumani voted for the TVK, helping it cross its first big hurdle after coming to power. AIADMK MLA CV Shanmugam from the rebel faction had said that 25 MLAs supported the Vijay-led government. 'Edappadi (Palaniswami) is lying on the issue of signatures of 47 MLAs on the resolution to not support TVK,' he told reporters. 'When did the 47 MLAs sign this resolution? He cannot claim this as no such meeting on a resolution took place. The letter given by Edappadi to the Speaker was forged.' Shanmugam added that Palaniswami's claim of the MLAs voting against the 'whip' appointed by him was completely false. He went on to say that minister C Vijaya Bhaskar is the selected AIADMK whip in the Tamil Nadu assembly and that the party whip cannot be appointed directly by the party's general secretary. SP Velumani called for VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran to be inducted back into AIADMK. Post the trust vote, Palaniswami told reporters that the government had been formed by 'luring' some members with promises of ministerial posts and board appointments.