In a sharp rebuttal to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s recent admission that the party’s vote bank has eroded by 10%, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran has warned that Palaniswami’s leadership could lead to the demise of the AIADMK after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Speaking to journalists, Dhinakaran cautioned AIADMK cadres not to be misled by Palaniswami and his inner circle, predicting that they would script “the final chapter of the AIADMK.”
Dhinakaran, nephew of late AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa’s close aide V.K. Sasikala, criticized Palaniswami’s handling of the party, accusing him of betraying the foundational ideals laid by AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). He noted that MGR had created the party’s iconic ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol to challenge and defeat the DMK, but under Palaniswami’s leadership, the party has been steadily losing ground.
“If the loyal cadres continue to blindly follow Palaniswami, they are heading towards the downfall of the party,” Dhinakaran said. He expressed confidence that after the 2026 Assembly polls, Palaniswami would be responsible for the party’s collapse, marking the “epilogue” of AIADMK’s political journey. Rejecting Palaniswami’s claim that the AIADMK would return to power in 2026, Dhinakaran accused the leader of covertly helping the DMK in elections, alleging a hidden pact between Palaniswami and the ruling party.
Dhinakaran also took a swipe at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s plans to promote his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, as Deputy Chief Minister. He questioned the urgency of the move, pointing out that while it might benefit the Stalin family politically, it raised concerns about its impact on governance and public welfare. “Will this promotion reduce taxes or bring down the power tariff?” Dhinakaran asked, echoing widespread criticism that the elevation of Udhayanidhi was more about consolidating family