Chennai, July 2:
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday reportedly told the party’s women’s wing functionaries that cadres were “happy and energised” by the exit of “betrayers”, even as senior leaders SP Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan skipped a key consultative meeting in Chennai, signalling deepening internal strains within the party.
The consultative meeting of the AIADMK women’s wing, chaired by Palaniswami at the party headquarters, focused on organisational activities and strategies to strengthen the party ahead of upcoming political programmes.
According to sources, Palaniswami urged office-bearers to intensify efforts to expand the women’s wing, enrol more members, and highlight welfare measures implemented for women during the AIADMK’s tenure in power.
However, the absence of Velumani and Viswanathan comes just days after nine senior functionaries, including eight MLAs aligned with them, declined to accept organisational responsibilities reassigned by the party leadership. The development has exposed widening differences within the party over its post-election strategy.
Party sources also indicated a relatively low turnout at the meeting. In contrast to the tenure of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, when such gatherings would see packed attendance, only a little over 200 women participated in Wednesday’s meeting, assembling across the party headquarters.
Seeking to reassure cadres, Palaniswami reportedly said that the departure of dissenting leaders had boosted the morale of party workers. He is also learnt to have emphasised that the AIADMK continues to function democratically and remains a unified movement representing people across castes and religions.
Referring to recent defections, Palaniswami is said to have criticised MLAs who were elected on the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol but later joined the ruling TVK. He reportedly questioned the legitimacy of the government, arguing that those who secured victory under the party’s banner had switched allegiance after the polls. He also raised doubts about the moral authority of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to continue in office following such defections, sources added.
The developments underline the growing factional tensions within the AIADMK, even as the party leadership seeks to project unity and mobilise its base ahead of future political challenges.