The AIADMK party in Tamil Nadu is facing a notable internal conflict, which became apparent during the oath-taking ceremony for the 17th legislative assembly. Members arrived in two separate groups, with one led by party general secretary Edapaddi K. Palaniswami and the other by former state minister SP Velumani. This division marks a departure from the party's usual practice of entering the assembly as a unified group. Following the ceremony, conflicting letters regarding party leadership were submitted to pro-tem speaker MV Karuppaiah. One letter, allegedly signed by 17 to 24 MLAs, declared Palaniswami as the leader of the legislature party. Meanwhile, a rival faction claimed support from 30 MLAs for Velumani's leadership. The rebel group is advocating for the AIADMK to formally support the Tamil Nadu Vanniyar Katchi (TVK) government, a move that Palaniswami is reportedly resisting. This rift has been fueled by dissatisfaction with the party's recent electoral performance, leading to increased tensions among senior leaders.