AIADMK’s internal discussions in Chennai turned tense after a section of party functionaries directly urged general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to bring AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran back into the AIADMK.
The demand surfaced during district-wise consultations at the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah, held as the party reviews its Assembly election defeat and prepares for upcoming bypoll and local body election work. On Sunday, Palaniswami met Thanjavur district office-bearers.
During the meeting, Kumbakonam area secretary Padma Kumaresan said the AIADMK should re-induct Dhinakaran to strengthen the party in the delta districts, arguing that the split benefits rival parties. The intervention created a stir in the hall.
Palaniswami responded that Dhinakaran currently runs the AMMK as a separate party and questioned how he could be merged into the AIADMK. He also noted that the AMMK is part of the AIADMK-led alliance, and said coordinated work by functionaries of both parties would be sufficient to secure victory in local body polls.
Some AIADMK functionaries were quoted as saying multiple groups are attempting to wrest control of the party from Palaniswami. They added that, amid such pressures, open talk of an AIADMK–AMMK merger in the delta districts has increased, adding to the leadership’s discomfort.
