A significant political upheaval is unfolding within the AIADMK as a faction of around 30 MLAs, led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam, openly revolts against party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). This rebellion could potentially mark the end of EPS's political career in Tamil Nadu. The rebel faction is seeking to gather support from 32 MLAs, which is two-thirds of AIADMK's total strength of 47 legislators, to claim the title of the 'real' AIADMK and protect themselves under the Anti-Defection Law. Shanmugam has accused EPS of betraying the party's ideology and attempting to align with the rival DMK to thwart the formation of a government led by C Joseph Vijay. The rebels aim to position themselves as the true anti-DMK faction. The internal strife is evident as EPS entered the Assembly with only 17 loyalists, contrasting sharply with his previous strong leadership. The rebel camp is now pushing for an urgent General Council meeting to discuss EPS's removal from the top position, indicating a significant shift in the party's dynamics.