Chennai: AIADMK functionaries and cadres have been left stunned after the party lost both constituencies it had earlier won and was pushed to third place in the recent by-elections.
The party had won 47 seats in the Assembly general election but ended up in third position overall, losing its status as the principal opposition. Since then, AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami has faced a series of electoral setbacks, and some former ministers, including S.P. Velumani and C.V. Shanmugam, have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership.
According to party sources, Tarapuram and Madurantakam were considered AIADMK strongholds. In Madurantakam, TVK—after finishing second in the general election—moved to first place in the by-election, indicating that it had drawn away AIADMK’s traditional vote base and contributed to a decline in the party’s vote share.
A similar trend was seen in Tarapuram, where AIADMK slipped to third place. TVK, which had been third in the general election, advanced to the top position and won the by-election, with party insiders alleging that AIADMK votes were largely absorbed by TVK.
The developments have triggered unease within the party, with sources suggesting that anger among functionaries and cadres could intensify against Palaniswami in the coming days.
