Chennai, July 21:
In a fresh setback to the AIADMK, more than 500 supporters of dissident leader C. Ve. Shanmugam from Villupuram district have reportedly resigned from the party, amid continuing internal strife.
According to reports, the mass exit comes as factional differences within the party intensify following its defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. Senior leaders, including Shanmugam and S. P. Velumani, had earlier voiced dissent against the leadership of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, though most rebels later returned to the fold. However, Shanmugam has continued to operate with an independent support base in Villupuram.
The rift widened after Palaniswami replaced Shanmugam with Pasupathi as the district secretary for Villupuram, triggering parallel functioning of rival factions in the district. Tensions between the two camps have since led to repeated confrontations.
The latest resignations underline the continuing instability within the AIADMK’s district unit, even as the party leadership seeks to contain dissent and consolidate its organisational structure.