Bhubaneswar: For the beleaguered EPS, who is down following AIADMK’s poor show, has a double dose breathing down his neck – SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam - the duo that triggered the AIADMK’s third great split.

​In the high-stakes theatre of Tamil Nadu politics, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has been hit by a "double dose" of rebellion. SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam—once the twin pillars of EPS’s reign—have now become the architects of his greatest crisis.

​SP Velumani: The Kongu Kingpin

A three-time MLA from Thondamuthur and a grassroots titan, Velumani was the man who delivered Western Tamil Nadu (Kongu Nadu) for the AIADMK. Known for his "wedding-to-funeral" local presence, his defection is a structural blow. He isn't just taking himself away; he’s taking the party's traditional stronghold with him.

The Kongu kingpin is reportedly sharing cordial ties with O Panneerselvam (OPS). Even OPS in 2024 had stated that cases against Velumani were slapped to stop reunification of AIADMK.

Velumani had also called OPS as “Brother like.”

​CV Shanmugam: The Legal Eagle & Firebrand

A veteran from the North (Villupuram/Mailam), Shanmugam brings the legal brain and the loud voice. Having recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha to win the Mailam seat, he provides the legislative legitimacy the rebels need.

​The Strategy:

This isn't just a walkout; it’s a calculated coup. By rallying over 32 MLAs (to bypass the Anti-Defection Law), this duo is effectively attempting to "unseat" EPS as the legitimate leader of the AIADMK legislative party. Their goal is to pivot the party toward the newly formed TVK government and secure a share of power that EPS couldn’t deliver.

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