AIADMK chief Palaniswami removes 25 MLAs for backing Tamil Nadu CM Vijay in floor test

Among those removed were AIADMK leaders SP Velumani and C V Shanmugam.

Updated on: May 13, 2026, 19:26:00 IST

Edited by Arya Mishra

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All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday removed 25 leaders from their posts within the party.

Palaniswami replaced the MLAs in the party posts and appointed new district secretaries in their places. (PTI)

Among those removed were AIADMK leaders SP Velumani and C V Shanmugam. This came after the AIADMK's rebel MLAs, including Natham R Viswanathan, defied the party's diktat and backed actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay's bid to prove majority the House.

The rebel AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the TVK government during the confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly earlier in the day. After he cracked the whip on these leaders, Palaniswami replaced them and appointed new district secretaries in their places, PTI news agency reported.

What happened during the floor test in Tamil Nadu Assembly?

The TVK, which emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu elections, won the trust vote in the state assembly with the support of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs. The DMK MLAs staged a walkout during the proceedings.

This came as a relief for the TVK and its founder Vijay, given that the party had been struggling to reach the majority mark of 118 despite an alliance with the Congress.

On Wednesday, the TVK won the trust vote by a 144:22 margin, with the 22 naysayers being the AIADMK MLAs. In this, 25 other AIADMK MLAs from the C Ve Shanmugam-SP Velumani camp, voted in favour of the government, something which they had announced earlier, PTI reported.

Following this, allegations of horse trading were levelled, which were rejected by TVK chief Vijay.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arya Mishra
Arya Mishra is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, and a key member of the digital news team focusing on urgent breaking developments across India and the world. With a sharp editorial instinct and strong reporting skills, Arya covers high-impact crime incidents, public safety and justice issues, political developments, education policy and international affairs, consistently delivering clear, accurate and timely journalism. Her recent reporting highlights include detailed coverage of serious criminal cases, politics as well as analyses of national education reforms and international diplomatic moves. On the world news front, she has written about global trade policy changes and security developments, including tariff shifts by the United States and strategic counter-terrorism strategies being rolled out by Ministry of Home Affairs. Arya thrives in fast-paced environments – running live blogs, crafting in-depth explainers and real-time news coverage that keeps readers informed as stories evolve. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was a part of The Indian Express online team. Outside the newsroom, she is an avid reader, with a love for thriller and suspense fiction, and enjoys music as a way to unwind. With more than three years of experience in dynamic newsrooms, Arya brings curiosity, clarity and commitment to every story she covers.Read More

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