AIADMK at breaking point? Revolt brews against EPS after Tamil Nadu poll debacle

Political analyst Sathyalaya Ramakrishnan described the situation as fluid and urged senior leaders to prioritise unity to prevent a split ahead of the next election cycle.

AIADMK MLA Esakki Subaya dismissed reports of a crisis, insisting the party remained united and denying claims of a split or leadership change.

On the assembly's first day, AIADMK MLAs arrived in two separate groups for the oath-taking: one group led by EPS with KP Munusamy and Thalavai N Sundaram; another led by SP Velumani with C Vijayabaskar; senior leader C Ve Shanmugam did not accompany the EPS camp.

Several MLAs reportedly demanded that EPS step down as party chief, arguing electoral setbacks since Jayalalithaa’s death; senior leaders Velumani and Shanmugam skipped meetings convened by EPS, signaling ongoing dissent.

AIADMK contested 167 seats and won 47 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, with vote share dropping to 21.21% from 33.5% in 2021. The result denied the party power in the assembly and removed its status as principal opposition.

TVK leader Vijay was reportedly unwilling to accept mere outside support from AIADMK lawmakers unless they resigned and stood for re-election under the TVK whistle symbol, complicating potential cooperation.

Senior leaders C Ve Shanmugam and Velumani reportedly floated the idea of AIADMK supporting TVK immediately after the verdict, but EPS reportedly rejected the proposal initially, creating resentment among some senior leaders.

In the days following the election, multiple closed-door meetings among AIADMK leaders exposed disagreements over leadership and strategy, including debates over whether to back TVK or maintain the party’s independent identity.