The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is experiencing a significant crisis as two factions vie for control, each claiming to be the legitimate party ahead of a trust vote for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. This internal conflict arises just before the vote, with one faction led by senior leader CV Shanmugam claiming support from 21 lawmakers, while the opposing faction, led by former minister OS Manian, asserts it has 26 supporters. This division echoes past struggles within the party following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, which previously led to rival factions fighting over the party's identity and symbol. The current crisis is compounded by accusations from Shanmugam that Palaniswami's faction seeks to ally with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a move he deems contrary to AIADMK's founding principles. The speaker of the assembly will need to verify the claims of both factions, which could lead to a prolonged political and legal battle. The outcome of the trust vote will be crucial in determining the actual strength and legitimacy of each faction within the AIADMK.