Chennai, Aug 10:
Senior AIADMK leaders Natham Viswanathan and S.P. Velumani have jointly urged party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to reconsider the removal of over 400 executive and general council members, calling for their reinstatement in the interest of party unity.
In a strongly worded statement, the leaders expressed concern over a series of decisions taken after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which they said had weakened the party and alienated its cadre. They alleged that differences within the party had intensified, leading to a situation where 25 out of 47 AIADMK MLAs were compelled to oppose certain leadership decisions, particularly those perceived as being soft towards the DMK.
The statement also revisited past electoral strategies, pointing to missed alliance opportunities. It claimed that the party leadership had ignored suggestions, including those reportedly made by senior national leaders, to forge alliances during the 2021 Assembly elections, resulting in the loss of several winnable constituencies. The leaders further noted that parties such as the DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam, and others that were previously aligned with the AIADMK were sidelined, weakening the alliance base.
Referring to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the statement alleged that the failure to secure alliances, despite repeated efforts by potential partners, enabled the DMK-Congress combine to sweep all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu. It also highlighted delays in finalising alliances with parties like the PMK, which eventually led to missed opportunities.
The leaders said similar patterns continued during the 2026 Assembly elections, where attempts to build a “grand alliance” did not materialise. They claimed that potential allies, including the DMDK and Puthiya Tamilagam, were not accommodated, and opportunities for broader coalitions were overlooked.
According to the statement, these decisions resulted in consecutive electoral setbacks in 2021, 2024, and 2026, despite what they described as “favourable conditions” for the party. This, they said, has led to widespread dissatisfaction among party workers and functionaries.
The leaders also expressed concern over the internal functioning of the party, alleging that senior leaders and long-time functionaries were sidelined, and key decisions on alliances and campaign strategies were taken without adequate consultation. This, they warned, has contributed to a steady exodus of cadres to other parties.
Calling for corrective measures, Natham Viswanathan and S.P. Velumani appealed to the party leadership to introspect and take steps to restore confidence among cadres. They emphasised that reinstating the expelled members would be a crucial first step towards rebuilding organisational strength and unity within the AIADMK.