AIADMK leadership battle: EPS vs Velumani set to rock TN Assembly
A major factional crisis within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is set to erupt into open confrontation on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, as rival factions led by former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and senior leader S.P. Velumani have each staked claim to the party's legislative leadership, triggering an intense political and legal standoff.
How the Crisis Unfolded
The confrontation surfaced during Assembly proceedings on Monday, 12 May, when both Palaniswami and Velumani separately approached Pro-tem Speaker Karuppiah, each asserting that they commanded the support of a majority of AIADMK legislators and demanding recognition as the party's legislature party leader. The unprecedented dual claim has created immediate uncertainty over who holds the authority to appoint the party whip and officially represent the AIADMK's position inside the House.
Political circles in Chennai are closely watching the developments, with legal experts noting that the Speaker's eventual decision could fundamentally reshape the future of one of Tamil Nadu's oldest opposition parties.
What Constitutional Experts Say
According to constitutional experts, the process of recognising a legislature party leader typically begins with elected MLAs meeting after the election to formally choose one among them. The chosen leader then communicates this decision to the Speaker, usually backed by a formal resolution endorsed by the party's top leadership or general secretary.
However, experts note the situation becomes legally complex when the party's central leadership and a majority of its MLAs back different individuals. In such cases, the dispute effectively becomes a leadership battle, leaving the Speaker with the responsibility of determining which faction represents the
