CHENNAI: Senior AIADMK leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam are holding a meeting with party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at his camp office on Greenways Road. The meeting is focused on whether to extend support to Vijay’s TVK to form the government. However, Palaniswami is unwilling to offer “voluntary support” to the TVK despite pressure from Shanmugam. Pushed to third place in the 234-member Assembly, the AIADMK has lost its opposition status. The party won only 47 of the 172 seats it contested, with its strength dropping from 66 seats in the 16th Assembly. Amid the struggle to secure a simple majority to form the government, the TVK has written to DMK allies, including Left parties and the VCK. However, the AIADMK has not received any communication from Vijay’s party so far. Palaniswami has also instructed newly elected MLAs to remain in Chennai for the next couple of days. A meeting with elected MLAs scheduled for today was called off due to possible repercussions. “We have been asked to stay in Chennai until further communication,” said an MLA from the western region who was re-elected in the April 23 poll. He added that discussions among senior leaders, former ministers, and the General Secretary are ongoing on “what next” and whether to extend support to the TVK. “No final decision has been taken so far,” said a former minister familiar with the developments. Senior leader Shanmugam is reportedly pressing Palaniswami to support the TVK chief, who is 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118, and negotiate for cabinet positions. However, Palaniswami remains reluctant. “Since Congress extended support after breaking its alliance with the DMK, it is not viable for the AIADMK to join hands with Vijay. This would invite the wrath of the BJP’s national leadership. It is not an ideal situation. The best position for our party is to remain neutral and raise the right issues,” said a senior leader close to Palaniswami.
