The internal crisis within the AIADMK party intensified as senior leader CV Shanmugam openly supported Vijay, the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Shanmugam accused Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) of attempting to secure support from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which he deemed a betrayal of the party's founding principles. He emphasized that the rebel faction would not participate in any alliance with the DMK and formally extended their support to Vijay, acknowledging the electoral mandate from the Tamil Nadu elections. The faction also proposed SP Velumani as the new legislative party leader, aiming to revitalize the party following its poor electoral performance. As tensions rise, the rebel MLAs are signaling a potential power struggle within the Assembly, reflecting the ongoing discontent and calls for EPS's resignation.