AIADMK veteran Dhanapal quits party after 4 decades, cites leadership neglect
Synopsis
Seven-time MLA and former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal has walked out of the AIADMK after more than four decades, calling out a leadership that 'ignored many leaders' — and paid for it at the polls. His exit, coming days after veteran S. Semmalai's resignation, points to a party struggling to hold its senior ranks together in the aftermath of a bruising electoral defeat.
Key Takeaways
Former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.
Dhanapal resigned from the AIADMK on 21 May 2025 , citing leadership neglect.
Dhanapal, 76 , was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly seven times between 1977 and 2021 .
He served as Assembly Speaker from October 2012 to May 2021 and held multiple ministerial portfolios.
His resignation follows that of another AIADMK veteran and former minister, S.
Semmalai , deepening the party's leadership crisis.
The announcement was made at the swearing-in of his son, D.
Logesh Tamilselvan , as a minister in the TVK -led government.
Former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal resigned from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Thursday, 21 May, citing a lack of recognition and deepening dissatisfaction with the party's current leadership. The exit of the 76-year-old seven-time MLA deals another blow to an already fractured AIADMK still reeling from its recent Assembly election defeat.
How the announcement was made
Dhanapal made his departure public while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his son's swearing-in ceremony. His son, Rasipuram MLA D. Logesh Tamilselvan, was inducted as a minister in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government at Lok Bhavan in Chennai. The occasion, marking a new chapter for his family, became the backdrop for Dhanapal's sharpest public rebuke of the party he had served for over four decades.
What Dhanapal said
'The leadership ignored many leaders. Today, the people have ignored them,' Dhanapal said in a pointed remark directed at the AIADMK leadership, suggesting that internal neglect had directly contributed to the party's present decline. He added that he was deeply distressed by the organisation's current condition, having witnessed its rise over several decades from its earliest years.
A career spanning four decades
Dhanapal served as Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from October 2012 to May 2021 and previously held ministerial portfolios including Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Co-operation, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection. He was elected to the Assembly in 1977, 1980, 1984, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2021 — a record that makes him one of the most experienced legislators the party produced.
Growing pattern of senior exits
Dhanapal's resignation follows that of another AIADMK veteran and former minister, S. Semmalai, raising fresh questions about unity and leadership stability within the party. This comes amid broader signs of unrest among senior leaders following the AIADMK's disappointing performance in the recent Assembly elections. Critics argue the party's top leadership has failed to address the grievances of long-serving members, accelerating a slow-burn exodus of experienced voices.
What this means for the AIADMK
The back-to-back departures of senior figures signal a deepening credibility crisis for the AIADMK as it attempts to rebuild its electoral base. With experienced legislators exiting and a TVK-led government now in power, the opposition space in Tamil Nadu is increasingly contested. How the party responds to these internal fractures will determine whether it can mount a credible challenge in future elections.
Point of View
The symbolism is deliberate and damaging. The AIADMK's post-election crisis is no longer about optics; it is about whether the party can retain the institutional memory that veteran leaders carry. Two high-profile exits in quick succession suggest that the leadership has neither the political will nor the internal mechanism to address senior dissent. For a party that built its identity on discipline and loyalty, that is an existential problem.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did P. Dhanapal resign from the AIADMK?
P. Dhanapal resigned from the AIADMK on 21 May 2025, citing a lack of recognition and growing dissatisfaction with the party's current leadership. He stated that the leadership had ignored many senior leaders, and that voters had ultimately responded in kind.
Who is P. Dhanapal and what is his political background?
P. Dhanapal is a 76-year-old Tamil Nadu politician who served as Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from October 2012 to May 2021. He was elected to the Assembly seven times — in 1977, 1980, 1984, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2021 — and held ministerial portfolios including Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Co-operation, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection.
Is Dhanapal the only senior AIADMK leader to have recently quit?
No. His resignation follows that of another AIADMK veteran and former minister, S. Semmalai, making it the second high-profile exit in quick succession. The back-to-back departures have intensified concerns about unity and leadership stability within the party.
What was the occasion on which Dhanapal made the announcement?
Dhanapal announced his resignation while speaking to reporters at the swearing-in ceremony of his son, Rasipuram MLA D. Logesh Tamilselvan, who was inducted as a minister in the TVK-led government at Lok Bhavan in Chennai.
What does Dhanapal's exit mean for the AIADMK?
The exit deepens the AIADMK's post-election crisis, raising questions about whether the party can retain experienced leaders while rebuilding its electoral base. With the TVK now in government and senior figures leaving, the AIADMK faces a contested opposition landscape in Tamil Nadu.
