Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), leader of the AIADMK, is facing internal leadership churn and criticism regarding his hold on the party's political legacy [1].
The instability threatens the cohesion of one of Tamil Nadu's primary political forces. Following the May 2024 Legislative Assembly election, the party has seen a rise in rival factions and disputes over who commands the confidence of the party's lawmakers [2].
Critics said that EPS has failed to preserve the political legacy of party icons MGR and J. Jayalalithaa [1]. This perceived failure has contributed to what some describe as the unmaking of the AIADMK [1]. While EPS has maintained strong personal electoral success in his home constituency of Edappadi, his internal standing remains contested [4].
In the 2021 Edappadi assembly election, EPS defeated DMK candidate T Sampath Kumar by 93,802 votes [4]. This followed a 2016 victory where he defeated PMK candidate N Annadurai by 42,022 votes [4]. Despite these margins, the party's internal structure is fracturing.
The leadership struggle is evidenced by competing claims for authority. Both the EPS and Velumani factions have approached the pro-tem speaker to seek recognition as the AIADMK legislature party leader [3].
This instability follows a history of leadership transitions within the party. O. Panneerselvam was twice entrusted with the Chief Minister's chair after Jayalalithaa's court convictions [1].
Despite the internal turmoil, some allies continue to use the party's heritage to support EPS. BJP leader K Annamalai said he invoked Jayalalithaa's legacy to back EPS during polling efforts [5]. However, the ongoing churn suggests that the party's rank and file remain divided on whether EPS is the undisputed leader [2].
“EPS is facing internal leadership churn and criticism regarding his hold on the party's political legacy.”
The AIADMK is experiencing a crisis of identity and authority. The struggle between the EPS and Velumani factions indicates that electoral success in individual constituencies does not necessarily translate to party-wide stability. By failing to consolidate the legacy of MGR and Jayalalithaa, the party risks permanent fragmentation, which could shift the balance of power in Tamil Nadu's legislative landscape.
