AIADMK’s performance in the by-elections to Dharapuram and Maduranthakam has put party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s (EPS) future under renewed scrutiny, as the party is facing defeat in both constituencies.
The report notes that in the recent Assembly election, AIADMK slipped to third place and secured only 47 seats. It also says an attempt by EPS to form a government with DMK support was blocked by an opposing faction within the party.
Subsequent developments further weakened EPS’s position, according to the report. Six AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined the TVK, while leaders including S.P. Velumani and C.V. Shanmugam openly challenged EPS’s decisions.
With the Election Commission’s rules limiting immediate action against EPS, attention shifted to the by-elections. In the two seats AIADMK had won four months ago, the Vijay-led party is now in a winning position, while DMK has moved to second place and AIADMK is projected to finish third in both.
The report expects the results to trigger fresh turmoil within AIADMK in the coming days, with stronger voices emerging against EPS’s leadership.
