Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar is set to make a decision on Thursday regarding the merger of the two rival AIADMK factions. This follows the withdrawal of petitions by leaders from both camps, asserting unity within the party. The Speaker confirmed that he would review the documents before a formal announcement.
The reconciliation efforts between the factions, led by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and senior leader S.P. Velumani, paved the way for this development. Notably, 14 MLAs from the Velumani camp visited EPS in Chennai after submitting apology letters and seeking reinstatement of their party positions.
Following the meeting with EPS, Velumani, and the MLAs, Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar received a formal letter renouncing support for the TVK-led government. Both faction leaders, accompanied by their supporters, visited the Speaker’s office together, indicating a formal reunification. They also withdrew previous petitions and informed the Speaker of their unified operations.
The MLAs further submitted representations to recognize Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the AIADMK Legislature Party leader and appoint Agri Krishnamoorthy as the party whip in the Assembly. While the Speaker verified the MLAs’ presence and petitions, there remains uncertainty regarding senior leader C.V. Shanmugam’s political standing, with reports suggesting ongoing discussions and potential re-entry considerations.
