No intention to split AIADMK, never aspired for ministerial berth: Velumani

The AIADMK is our lifeline, he said.Velumani, whom a group of MLAs had urged Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar to recognise as the legislative party leader, also lauded the newly inducted ministers in the TVK Cabinet.The sudden volte-face comes days after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Left parties objected to TVK accommodating rebel AIADMK legislators in the government.

AIADMK breakaway group leader S P Velumani on Friday denied having any intention to split the party and said the MLAs had extended support to TVK in accordance with the people's mandate.

He said the AIADMK should accept its defeat in the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly election and work towards restoring the ''Amma rule'' associated with former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Velumani, along with former state minister C Ve Shanmugam, had openly revolted against the party diktat and supported TVK. However, he asserted that Edappadi K Palaniswami continued as the party's general secretary and emphasised the need to preserve unity within the AIADMK.

Clarifying speculation over power-sharing arrangements with the newly formed TVK government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Velumani told reporters here, ''We have no intention of breaking the party or causing a split. We supported TVK while respecting the people's mandate.''.

He said neither he nor Shanmugam had ever expressed interest in securing positions in the newly formed government.

He added that when CM visited Shanmugam's residence, a memorandum was submitted urging the government to continue AIADMK-era welfare schemes, including Amma Canteens and the gold assistance scheme for brides.

''We should accept the poll defeat and strive to re-establish Amma's rule,'' he said, dismissing rumours that the breakaway group had caused a split in the AIADMK.

''Palaniswami continues to remain the party's general secretary. The AIADMK is our lifeline,'' he said.

Velumani, whom a group of MLAs had urged Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar to recognise as the legislative party leader, also lauded the newly inducted ministers in the TVK Cabinet.

The sudden volte-face comes days after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Left parties objected to TVK accommodating rebel AIADMK legislators in the government.