The principal Opposition celebration, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), is going through a novel state of affairs.
Other than encountering political offensive from the DMK, its conventional adversary, the AIADMK is experiencing a two-pronged assault — one from its former coordinator and now Bodinayakkanur candidate of the DMK, O. Panneerselvam, and one other from its former interim basic secretary VK Sasikala, who heads the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK).
Whereas the previous has addressed as many as 40 conferences in lots of areas of the southern area, explaining how he was “meted out injustice” by the hands of the AIADMK’s basic secretary Edappadi Okay. Palaniswami, the latter, who has introduced 80 candidates on behalf of her celebration, is about to begin her tour in Thirupparankundram on Tuesday.
Making use of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s beginning anniversary to announce her resolution of working a celebration of her personal, the AIPTMMK basic secretary, as soon as an aide of the previous Chief Minister, selected Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district for the event. She performed the sufferer card and blamed Mr. Palaniswami for having “betrayed” her.
Two causes could be attributed to the main target of the current adversaries of the AIADMK within the south.
The celebration had all the time acquired beneficiant assist from the districts in its heyday. This may very well be seen from the truth that the group bagged 40 Meeting seats in 2001, when the area had a complete of 63 seats, and 30-odd seats out of 58 on every of the events in 2011 and 2016.
The southern area can also be recognized for the focus of the Mukkulathor neighborhood.
Even in 2024, when the celebration confronted the Lok Sabha election, its management was fairly clear in holding Ms. Sasikala and Mr. Panneerselvam, aside from the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhgam (AMMK) founder TTV Dhinakaran, at an arm’s size.
Nonetheless, Mr. Palaniswami has now revived his political ties with Mr. Dhinakaran by accommodating the AMMK throughout the AIADMK-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance.
Earlier efficiency
A cursory have a look at the efficiency of the celebration in sure Meeting segments within the south in 2024 would divulge to what extent the celebration misplaced its following in a matter of three years (since 2021).
In respect of the Melur and Usilampatti Meeting constituencies, the place the Dravidian main received 5 years in the past, the AIADMK might safe simply 39,123 votes in 2024, in comparison with 83,344 votes in 2021, and 24, 941 votes towards 71,255 votes respectively.
Despite the fact that the celebration didn’t win in Mudukulathur of the Ramanathapuram district 5 years in the past, it had garnered 81,180 votes, which then diminished to 18,372 votes in 2024.
Views galore
M. Rajapandian, basic secretary of the Nethaji Senai, who hails from Kovilpatti of the Thoothukudi district, and P. Manikandan, president of the Madurai District’s Moist and Dry Land Farmers’ Affiliation, are of the view that the AIADMK could also be hit by the marketing campaign of Ms. Sasikala and Mr. Panneerselvam.
A seasoned politician from Virudhunagar contends that however the diploma of enchantment the 2 leaders have on their neighborhood, the narrative being set by them is that except Mr. Palaniswami is faraway from the AIADMK’s management, the neighborhood wouldn’t get again the maintain it had when Jayalalithaa was on the helm of affairs.
On this regard, many from the Mukkulathor neighborhood, with whom this journalist interacted within the southern area, level out how Jayalalithaa introduced a golden armor to the bust of a distinguished chief of the Ahead Bloc, U. Muthuramalinga Thevar, in February 2014.
Nonetheless, AGM Sivagurunathan, a social activist of Virudhunagar, says that Ms. Sasikala’s resolution would possibly profit Mr. Palaniswami not directly, as her marketing campaign might result in the fragmentation of anti-Palaniswami votes.
RB Udhayakumar, former Income Minister and the AIADMK’s candidate for Thirumangalam, emphatically says that individuals wouldn’t settle for those that go towards the “two leaves” (the celebration’s image), after having reaped advantages out of the group.
Revealed – April 07, 2026 12:47 am IST