Chennai, May 14:
The internal crisis within the AIADMK has intensified after party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) removed several senior leaders, including C.V. Shanmugam, from their party posts. The action followed a dramatic trust vote in the Assembly, where a section of AIADMK MLAs defied the party line and supported Chief Minister Vijay.
In response, C.V. Shanmugam launched a strong counterattack against EPS, levelling a series of allegations against the leadership. He accused EPS of sidelining senior leaders, taking unilateral decisions, and weakening the party’s organisational structure.
The confrontation between the EPS camp and the rebel faction has further escalated, with both sides accusing each other of anti-party activities. While EPS has defended his actions as necessary to maintain discipline, the dissenting leaders argue that the leadership has failed to keep the party united.
EPS has also alleged that the rebel MLAs were influenced by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), suggesting that political inducements may have played a role in their support during the trust vote.
These developments underline a deepening split within the AIADMK, with factions openly challenging each other. The ongoing power struggle signals a critical phase for the party, with its unity and future direction now under serious strain