CHENNAI: The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, suffered a significant split on Tuesday as Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament C.V. Shanmugam, along with a group of senior leaders, broke away from the party and extended their support to Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay's newly formed government.

The development came in the wake of the assembly election results and marks one of the more dramatic political realignments in the state since the new government assumed office.

A Fracture Long in the Making

Political observers noted that the split had been anticipated for some time, with speculation of disaffection within AIADMK ranks having been in circulation for several days. The formal defection of Shanmugam — a prominent face of the party in the Upper House of Parliament — lends the rupture a significance that goes beyond mere numbers, striking at the credibility and organisational cohesion of the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led outfit.

Post-Poll Turbulence

Tamil Nadu's political landscape has been in a state of flux since the declaration of assembly election results, with the formation of the Vijay-led government having set off a series of realignments and recalibrations across party lines. The latest development is widely seen as a reflection of the gravitational pull that the new dispensation is beginning to exert on opposition legislators and leaders disillusioned with their respective parties.

Further defections from the AIADMK are not being ruled out by analysts tracking the fast-evolving situation in the state.

CHENNAI: In one of his first and most consequential decisions as Chief Minister, Thalapathy Vijay on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 liquor shops operating in violation of regulations across Tamil Nadu, directing that all such outlets be shut down within a fortnight. The order came on just the third day of his assuming office, signalling the new government's intent to prioritise public health and social welfare.

The directive covers shops run under the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which currently operates 4,765 liquor outlets across the state. Of these, 717 have been identified by officials as functioning in contravention of established norms and are to be shuttered within 14 days.

Proximity to Sensitive Locations Cited

The closures are primarily targeted at outlets situated within 500 metres of schools, colleges, places of worship including temples, churches and mosques, as well as areas with heavy pedestrian and commuter traffic. The Chief Minister underscored that the decision was taken out of respect for public health, the future of students and the sentiments of pilgrims and devotees.

A Statement of Intent

Political observers noted that the swiftness of the decision — coming within 72 hours of the oath-taking ceremony — was a deliberate signal from the Vijay-led administration of its priorities. The move is expected to resonate strongly among voters in semi-urban and rural constituencies where liquor shops in the vicinity of educational institutions and religious centres have long been a source of public grievance.

Further policy measures on the liquor trade are widely anticipated as the new government consolidates its footing in the weeks ahead.