The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is on the brink of a potential third major split following its disappointing performance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where it won only 47 out of 234 seats. Internal divisions have become pronounced, with rival factions emerging, each backing different leaders. Former minister C Ve Shanmugam's faction is advocating for SP Velumani as the party's floor leader, while supporters of Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) are also asserting their claims. The conflict became evident during the first session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, where AIADMK legislators arrived in separate groups. The party is grappling with questions over whether to support the newly formed government led by C Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), further deepening the divide within its ranks. Political analysts have urged party leaders to engage in dialogue to prevent a split, but the ongoing factionalism and calls for leadership change suggest that the AIADMK may be heading toward another significant organizational rupture, reminiscent of past splits following the deaths of prominent leaders.