A statement by AIADMK Information Technology wing secretary Raj Sathyan calling on seniors to “make way for the youth” has triggered a fresh controversy within the party.
The remarks came after Mahendran, joint secretary of the AIADMK Traders Wing in Thanjavur East district, died by suicide. Party members said Mahendran was active on social media, and his death shocked cadres.
In a post on X, Raj Sathyan said the party had lost a “pure” worker, alleging that certain actions against a party striving to recover from electoral defeats had contributed to the situation. He urged leaders to reflect on the mental state of cadres and not allow workers to suffer further, ending with an appeal to create space for the next generation.
The post drew both support and criticism from within AIADMK, following which Raj Sathyan deleted it.
Some AIADMK functionaries said that after the arrival of TVK, political interest among youth had risen, but the party had no clear plan to channel that energy. They also pointed to a perceived age gap in leadership, claiming many young faces receive little importance beyond affiliated wings, and that the post reflected growing frustration among younger office-bearers.
