AIADMK Faces Turmoil as EPS Rejects Rejoining of Expelled Leaders OPS, Shashikala
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Synopsis
Chennai, March 1 (NationPress) The AIADMK, Tamil Nadu's key opposition party, is in turmoil as its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) refuses to hold talks with expelled leaders O. Panneerselvam (OPS), V.K. Shashikala, and TTV Dhinakaran, threatening the party's future in upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways
- EPS has declined to reinstate expelled leaders.
- OPS offered to return without preconditions.
- Loss of Thevar community support could harm AIADMK.
- AIADMK must unite to regain electoral strength.
- 2026 Assembly elections are approaching.
Chennai, March 1 (NationPress) The main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, is encountering a significant dilemma as the party's general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has dismissed any discussions regarding the re-entry of expelled leaders O. Panneerselvam (OPS), V.K. Shashikala, and TTV Dhinakaran.
All three individuals hail from the influential Thevar community, which plays a crucial role in the southern part of Tamil Nadu.
It is essential to note that OPS, who previously served as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and was the AIADMK coordinator, was expelled from the party in September 2023 alongside numerous loyalists. Both Shashikala and Dhinakaran had faced expulsion from the party earlier. OPS recently proposed rejoining the party without any conditions; however, EPS publicly stated that they would not be reinstated.
C. Rajeev, a political analyst and Director of the Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a Chennai-based think tank, told IANS, “EPS is steering the party in the wrong direction, and without the backing of the influential Thevar community, the party risks significant losses in its traditional stronghold, southern Tamil Nadu.”
The AIADMK suffered substantial defeats in the 2021 Assembly elections, and the party failed to secure any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the recent by-elections for Erode East, the AIADMK did not even participate, further highlighting its struggles.
With the 2026 Assembly elections on the horizon and the ruling DMK setting ambitious targets of winning 200 out of 234 seats, the AIADMK must act quickly to mount a challenge against the DMK.
An AIADMK senior leader commented to IANS, “It is crucial to reconcile and realign with the expelled leaders, including OPS, Shashikala, and Dhinakaran, who possess their own spheres of influence. The party cannot afford to lose yet another election, and to return to success, it must strategize effectively.”
Historically, the AIADMK maintained power from 2011 to 2021, and through strategic social engineering and a unified approach, the party has the potential to recover its former glory.
