AIADMK MLA Leema Rose Martin expressed support for the party's alliance with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Friday, highlighting its focus on the welfare of Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to the media in Coimbatore, Martin praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for welfare initiatives and the closure of 717 TASMAC liquor outlets across the state.
“For the welfare of Tamil Nadu people, we have joined with the TVK party. For higher education studies, the present government has given Rs 1,000 to students. The ‘Singa Pen’ scheme has been welcomed by all women,” she stated.
Praising the Chief Minister’s decision to close liquor outlets violating distance regulations, she added, “When taking charge, the Chief Minister Joseph Vijay asked to give time, and he has closed 717 TASMAC shops, which is a good move from his side.”
Martin also indicated efforts to reunify the AIADMK amid increasing factional divisions, saying, “We are trying to unite AIADMK leaders who got split out from the party.”
Her comments come amid intensifying factional tensions within the AIADMK. On the same day, senior AIADMK leader C V Shanmugam confirmed that former Tamil Nadu minister C Vijayabaskar had been appointed as the party’s official whip.
The internal rift escalated after the faction led by party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami initiated disciplinary action against leaders accused of violating the party whip during a recent floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Separately, the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister Vijay ordered the closure of 717 TASMAC liquor retail outlets situated within 500 metres of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. This decision was announced on Tuesday as part of governance measures.
An official release stated that out of the 4,765 TASMAC outlets operating across Tamil Nadu, 717 were found to be violating distance norms during a government survey. This included 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 near bus stands.
The Tamil Nadu government affirmed that the closures were undertaken in the interest of public welfare, despite TASMAC being a significant source of state revenue.