Chennai: Barely days after the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is facing pressure from alliance partners, with the CPI(M) warning that it may reconsider support to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) if AIADMK rebels are accommodated in the Cabinet.
The warning came from CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam, who said the Left party had extended outside support to the TVK government primarily to prevent President’s Rule and stop what he described as a “backdoor entry” of the BJP into Tamil Nadu politics.
Addressing reporters in Tiruvarur, Shanmugam said the mandate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election had gone against both the DMK and the AIADMK-led fronts, and therefore inducting AIADMK rebels into the ministry would contradict the people’s verdict. He added that if the TVK government went ahead with such a move, the CPI(M) would “reconsider” its support to the Vijay-led administration.
“We strongly believe that the chief minister will not take such a decision. If he decides to include the AIADMK in the Cabinet, we will reconsider our support,” Shanmugam said, as quoted by HT.
The remarks come amid growing speculation over possible negotiations between the TVK leadership and a rebel faction within the AIADMK that supported the government during the recent floor test in the Assembly. Around 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs had backed the TVK government during the trust vote, reported HT.
The TVK government, led by Vijay, came to power after a fractured verdict in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The party emerged as the single largest formation and later secured outside support from the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK and IUML to cross the majority mark.
Political tensions have intensified over reports that some AIADMK dissidents could be offered ministerial berths as part of efforts to stabilise the coalition government. Congress leaders have also reportedly cautioned Vijay against inducting rebel AIADMK legislators, warning that such a move could damage the goodwill enjoyed by the new administration.
