Chennai, May 15 -- Amid the continuing internal crisis within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the CV Shanmugam faction on Friday asserted that former Tamil Nadu minister C Vijayabaskar had already been appointed as the party's official whip.

Speaking exclusively to ANI, AIADMK leader CV Shanmugam confirmed the appointment while responding to questions regarding Vijayabaskar's role within the party. "Yes, we appointed official whip. He is already appointed," Shanmugam said.

The statement comes amid escalating factional tensions within the AIADMK following disciplinary actions and growing dissent against party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS.

Earlier on May 14, Shanmugam addressed c...