00:14We'll see you next time.
00:30Reports surfacing that AIDMK is facing a certain rift.
00:33There are rebels in the AIDMK.
00:35Many have said that EPS hasn't been leading very well.
00:38And therefore, that is one of the reasons there could be a demand to shift.
00:41Especially saying that AIDMK has been losing elections repeatedly.
00:45They need a change of leadership.
00:47And now Vijay jumping into it, meeting the rebel leader specifically.
00:51Meeting CV Shanmugam and SP Velomani.
00:54There are 30 AIDMK leaders at least who are backing Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Vijay.
01:01So there have been all sorts of theories.
01:02If AIDMK were coming together, if AIDMK could be putting support to Vijay's party, TBK.
01:08Vijay hadn't really taken a call on that.
01:10Congress had said, we are supporting you.
01:13But that is only on conditional basis.
01:15Especially referring that AIDMK shouldn't be a part of it.
01:18It's getting very interesting.
01:20Assembly has started.
01:21Chief Minister has taken his oath.
01:23But he would definitely appreciate if more numbers come towards his government.
01:27However, from now, he's meeting at least the rebel leaders.
01:30For example, led by Stevie Shanmugam and Velomani.
01:33We'll see if other AIDMK leaders have something to say about it.
01:36Remember, there were reports earlier as well.
01:38When the results had come that AIDMK is offering support to Chief Minister Vijay.
01:44Or, of course, when he was set to make what looked like a minority government.
01:47But for now, I can tell you that he's met the Stalins and VICO more as a courtesy call.
01:56But now, meeting AIDMK rebels as well.
01:59They are backing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
02:00And 30 could be a big number for Vijay.
02:03And if this goes in the government as well.
02:06So, definitely some interesting games at play there in Tamil Nadu and Chennai.
02:11Where a lot of meetings and huddles are taking place.
02:14But, remember, meeting not AIDMK leaders simply.
02:18And that's why I reiterate this is AIDMK rebel leaders who he's meeting.
02:23Let me immediately bring in Anagar Keshav for the latest on that.
02:27Anagar, so it's not like he's meeting AIDMK leadership but a certain section.
02:31Why is that and what could it mean for the government if these numbers go ahead and back them?
02:38Well, in fact, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is fully aware that the AIDMK leadership is under a severe crisis.
02:45Because right now we are looking at two factions.
02:47One is, of course, the one led by EPS.
02:50And the other one, Pooja, is led by CV Shanmugam and SP Velu Mani together.
02:55So, Vijay is aware of these developments.
02:57And what we're also learning from our sources is that the MLA's who are under CV Shanmugam's camp are likely
03:03to vote in favor of Vijay is tomorrow's floor test in the assembly.
03:08Whereas the MLA's that fall under EPS's camp have all decided not to vote for PVK companies.
03:14So, therefore, this is Vijay's move of keeping the CV Shanmugam's MLA camp happy.
03:19And that's why you can see him meeting them separately.
03:22He has completely ignored EPS thus far.
03:24He has not yet met EPS.
03:26He has also gone ahead and met with all the political leaders in Tamil Nadu.
03:30Even someone like Seaman who has not even won one assembly seat in Tamil Nadu.
03:34But he has chosen to keep away from EPS thus far.
03:37Will he meet EPS later sometime today?
03:39That we don't yet know.
03:41So, this, the visuals that we are looking at is Vijay meeting with CV Shanmugam and SP Velu Mani.
03:48SP Velu Mani has been elected as the leader of the legislative party.
03:51And it has also been given to speaker.
03:53But then countering that, EPS also went and gave a letter to speaker saying that he is the next leader
03:58in AIDMK in the assembly.
04:02So, there is a lot of confusion that's going on in the AIDMK camp with the party being under a
04:07heavy crisis.
04:08Because the fact that AIDMK has successively lost election after election after Jai Dalita's death has lowered the morale of
04:16the party.
04:16And the confidence in EPS's leadership is also at its lowest.
04:21Think, Anagar, as you track these meetings, that he will be taking the AIDMK support because he'll eventually have to
04:27prove the majority mark or the majority support.
04:30He's taken the help of the Congress, the VCK, other parties as well.
04:34Do you think then when the Congress already is hovering over Vijay saying only conditional support,
04:40then AIDMK support could actually prove to be a catch-22 situation for Vijay?
04:45That's right. In fact, if 32 AIDMK MLAs don't join with Vijay, then it would also attract anti-defection law.
04:54Because according to anti-defection law, two-thirds of the party's MLAs must join with TVK.
05:00If even one MLA is falling short of the 32 mark, then they would attract anti-defection law.
05:05But TV Shanmugam's idea is to secure some cabinet births and his MLAs are also asking for it.
05:11And for that to happen, he would have to poach some MLAs from the EPSS camp.
05:15And until that happens, we can't really witness a coalition government with AIDMK.
05:20That is the situation that we are looking at.
05:22And Congress would not really be that welcoming of AIDMK.
05:26But if they do manage to convince the Congress leadership that AIDMK does not have the baggage of BJP with
05:32them,
05:32then things could soften down between Congress and the AIDMK.
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