EPS expels all 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs after floor test; alleges TVK government built on "horse-trading"

The Tamil Nadu floor test formally shattered the AIADMK. While 22 MLAs loyal to general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami voted against the TVK government as directed by the party whip, a rebel bloc of 25 MLAs led by former minister S.P. Velumani voted in favour — handing CM Vijay a key slice of his 144-vote majority.

Following the session, a visibly furious EPS held a press conference and announced the immediate expulsion of all 25 rebel MLAs from the party. He declared that voting against the official party whip was an unambiguous violation of party discipline and that no exceptions would be made regardless of seniority.

EPS alleged that the TVK government had been assembled through "horse-trading" — a direct accusation that rebel MLAs had received material inducements in exchange for their votes. He announced that the AIADMK would file petitions before the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker seeking the disqualification of all 25 MLAs under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law). Legal experts noted that such proceedings, once initiated, are subject to the Speaker's discretion and can take considerable time to resolve in the courts.

The split represents a historic fracture in the AIADMK — a party that has dominated Tamil Nadu politics for over five decades. The rebel faction, led by Velumani and C.V. Shanmugam, is expected to either formally align with the TVK coalition or operate as an independent grouping in the Assembly.