AIADMK loses two-time MP Dr Venugopal as senior SC leader quits party
Synopsis
A two-time Lok Sabha MP and one of AIADMK's most senior Scheduled Caste leaders has walked out, citing the party's failure to retain SC communities since Jayalalithaa's death and taking a direct shot at Edappadi Palaniswami's leadership style. With Semmalai and Dhanapal already gone, the exits are no longer isolated — they are a pattern.
Key Takeaways
Venugopal , two-time Lok Sabha MP from Tiruvallur and former AIADMK Parliamentary Party leader, resigned from the party on 24 May 2025 .
He cited erosion of Scheduled Caste support since the death of J.
Jayalalithaa as a key reason for the party's electoral decline.
He criticised AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K.
Palaniswami's approach to candidate selection and organisational decisions.
Semmalai and former Speaker P.
Dhanapal had also recently quit the party.
The AIADMK has suffered consecutive electoral defeats and faces mounting pressure to rebuild its support base ahead of future polls in Tamil Nadu .
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) suffered a fresh political blow on Sunday, 24 May, when former Lok Sabha member Dr P. Venugopal — a two-time MP from Tiruvallur constituency and one of the party's most prominent Scheduled Caste leaders — announced his resignation. The exit deepens an already widening leadership crisis within the party, which has struggled to recover its footing since the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Why Venugopal Walked Out
In a formal statement, Dr Venugopal cited both political and social factors behind his decision. He pointed to the steady erosion of AIADMK's support base among Scheduled Caste communities following Jayalalithaa's death, calling it a primary driver of the party's poor electoral showing in recent years. He argued that rebuilding the organisation would require an inclusive approach capable of accommodating all sections and communities — a standard he indicated the current leadership has not met.
He also took a pointed swipe at the organisational style of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, suggesting that sharper political judgment was needed in candidate selection and key strategic decisions. Dr Venugopal noted that under Jayalalithaa's leadership, senior figures were given opportunities in the Rajya Sabha, whereas the current approach had, according to him, generated concern among veteran cadres.
A Pattern of Senior Exits
Dr Venugopal's departure is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, former Minister S. Semmalai and former Speaker P. Dhanapal had also quit the party, reflecting a broader wave of dissatisfaction among long-serving functionaries. This is part of a pattern of senior-level attrition that has accelerated following consecutive electoral defeats.
Notably, Dr Venugopal was not a peripheral figure — he had been associated with the AIADMK for several years, headed key responsibilities in the party's medical wing since its inception, and served as the AIADMK Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha. His exit signals that the discontent has reached the party's institutional core.
Electoral Setbacks Fuel Internal Tensions
The AIADMK has faced consecutive defeats in major elections and has been unable to recapture the political dominance it held under Jayalalithaa. Internal divisions have deepened as sections of the leadership have openly differed over strategy and direction. The exits of senior figures have made those fractures increasingly difficult to conceal.
Critics argue that without structural reforms — particularly in candidate selection and community outreach — the party risks further marginalisation ahead of the next round of electoral contests in Tamil Nadu.
What Comes Next
With multiple senior leaders now outside the party and factional tensions surfacing openly, the AIADMK faces mounting organisational pressure. The party will need to address its shrinking Scheduled Caste support base and restore confidence among veteran cadres if it hopes to remain a credible political force in Tamil Nadu. How Palaniswami responds to this latest departure will be closely watched by both party insiders and political observers in the state.
Point of View
Once a bedrock of Jayalalithaa's electoral dominance, is fracturing at the leadership level. The party has now lost a former parliamentary party leader, a former minister, and a former speaker in quick succession, yet there is little visible course correction from Palaniswami. The pattern suggests that the leadership is either unable or unwilling to accommodate senior voices — a structural problem that candidate reshuffles alone cannot fix. In Tamil Nadu's competitive political landscape, with the DMK firmly in power, the AIADMK can ill afford to bleed institutional memory while also losing community-level credibility.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr P. Venugopal and why did he quit AIADMK?
Dr P. Venugopal is a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Tiruvallur constituency and one of AIADMK's senior Scheduled Caste leaders, who also served as the party's Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha. He resigned on 24 May 2025, citing the erosion of SC community support since Jayalalithaa's death and criticising the current leadership's approach to candidate selection and organisational decisions.
Which other AIADMK leaders have recently quit the party?
Former Minister S. Semmalai and former Speaker P. Dhanapal had also walked out of the AIADMK in recent weeks before Venugopal's resignation, reflecting a broader wave of dissatisfaction among veteran party functionaries.
What did Venugopal say about Edappadi Palaniswami's leadership?
Without naming him directly, Dr Venugopal suggested that better political judgment was needed in key organisational and electoral decisions. He criticised the current approach to candidate selection and noted that under Jayalalithaa, senior leaders were given Rajya Sabha opportunities — a practice he implied has been discontinued under the present leadership.
Why is AIADMK's Scheduled Caste support base significant?
Scheduled Caste communities formed a crucial part of AIADMK's electoral coalition under J. Jayalalithaa. According to Venugopal, this support has steadily eroded since her death, contributing directly to the party's consecutive electoral defeats. Rebuilding that base is widely seen as essential for any AIADMK revival.
What are the implications for AIADMK ahead of future elections?
With multiple senior leaders exiting and factional tensions deepening, the AIADMK faces significant organisational challenges. The party must address its shrinking community support base and restore confidence among veteran cadres to remain a credible opposition force in Tamil Nadu.
