AIADMK has witnessed fresh internal churn after the party suffered a sharp setback in the Maduranthakam and Dharapuram by-elections, where it reportedly fell to third place. Party sources say the result has triggered renewed discontent among a section of MLAs and functionaries.
The report recalls that after the Assembly election, in which AIADMK won only 47 seats, differences emerged between party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and a group of leaders including former ministers S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam. The disagreement later turned into an open rift.
According to the account, 25 MLAs led by Velumani had extended support to the TVK government, and later six of them resigned as MLAs and joined TVK. EPS subsequently removed party posts from those who worked against him, later assigning them roles other than district secretary positions, after which the dissident camp largely stayed quiet.
With AIADMK now facing a bypoll reversal in constituencies it had earlier won, the dissident group is said to be attempting to consolidate dissatisfied functionaries and open channels with both wavering MLAs and EPS loyalists. Sources also claim a secret meeting of senior leaders was held at a former minister’s residence in Chennai to discuss moving before EPS convenes the party executive committee and tightens his control.
The same sources say efforts are under way in the coming days to shift support within the party and mount pressure on EPS by bringing his supporters and key functionaries into the dissident camp.
