TVK government under Thalapathy Vijay is trying to fight back to back challenges just days after forming the government. CPI(M), one of the parties backing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government from outside, has warned that it may withdraw support if AIADMK legislators are inducted into the state Cabinet. The development has triggered fresh political speculation over whether the DMK is quietly waiting to capitalise on the instability within the ruling alliance.
What CPI(M) warned?
CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam had said that the Left party would change its stand if AIADMK MLAs or their rebels were inducted in the ministry. “Denying the mandate of people in this Assembly election,” he said.
The “left” parties had supported Vijay only because of lack of electoral alternatives and for preventing any “backdoor entry” of BJP via Governor’s rule. With the impending induction of the AIADMK team in the ministry, issues arose within the alliance.
The CPI(M) along with CPI, VCK and IUML are supporting Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) govt from outside, while Congress has formally aligned with C Joseph Vijay’s party.
What is happening inside AIADMK?
The political crisis deepened when a new split occurred within AIADMK. Out of 47 MLAs, 25 legislators led by S P Velumani and CV Shanmugam supported Vijay in the vote of confidence, while rest of the party members under AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) did not support the government.
The rebels are now facing disciplinary measures from EPS camp, while various factions approached Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar to disqualify each other’s legislators.
Speculation is high that the rebel AIADMK MLAs may be bribed with ministerial quotas for helping Vijay leap over the trust vote. The speculation is at the core of the CPI(M) warning.
Is this DMK’s game plan?
DMK is closely watching the rift in the ruling alliance. DMK chief M K Stalin earlier had said that the opposition will give Vijay’s government six months before hitting the TVK government hard.
Critics argue that the endless “six-month period” is an indication that the DMK is waiting for the governance performance and the fractures in the coalition to deepen. The senior DMK leader Anitha Radakrishnan has earlier said that the TVK govt will not last beyond six months.
Meanwhile, Vijay has kept going after the previous DMK government alleging governance and corruption issues. The confrontation reached political and criminal levels in the Assembly. With coalition rifts intensifying and the factional politics in the AIADMK intensifying, Vijay govt seems to be entering a deeply confusing political phase much earlier.
