Overview
- Rival AIADMK groups, which filed petitions with the Assembly Speaker on Thursday, sought to disqualify each other’s MLAs after Wednesday’s floor test split the party 25 to 22.
- The Shanmugam–Velumani camp claims it holds the legislature party majority and says its whip ordered members to back the government, while Palaniswami asserts the party chief alone controls discipline.
- VCK leader D Ravikumar opposed making the breakaway AIADMK MLAs ministers and said it raises questions of political morality even if current law may allow it before any disqualification is decided.
- Under India’s anti-defection rules, the Speaker rules on disqualification and Article 164(1-B) bars ministerial posts only after a member is actually disqualified, which leaves a legal grey zone during hearings.
- Responding to defeat, Stalin on Thursday took full responsibility, launched the ‘Udunpirappin Kural’ feedback drive, set a 20-day review panel, and outlined a ‘DMK 2.0’ overhaul as TVK holds power with 144 votes backed by the Left, VCK and IUML.