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Focus shifts to tussle within AIADMK ahead of district secretaries’ meeting with EPS
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Even as AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami is scheduled to hold discussions with the party’s district secretaries in Chennai on Tuesday, the focus turns to the eventual outcome of the intra-party tussle between his camp and the rebels led by former Ministers S.P. Velumani and C.Ve. Shanmugam.A cross-section of the party functionaries feels that Mr. Palaniswami should follow up on his earlier statement (calling upon the dissidents to agree to talks) with a forceful appeal for reunification at the meeting. Otherwise, his call will be termed an empty appeal, the office-bearers say, adding that the two groups should make earnest efforts to bring the dispute to an end.Infighting for 10 years“For nearly 10 years, we have been indulging in infighting, instead of fighting our traditional adversary, the DMK. Perhaps, because of the differences among our leaders, the people have concluded that the AIADMK is not the right party to oppose the DMK,” says a long-standing office-bearer, who is a district secretary in the northern part of Tamil Nadu. He attributes the rise of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to the “vacuum” created by his party on account of the infighting.Another office-bearer says that “against all odds”, the party has performed reasonably well in the Assembly election, though some opinion and exit polls had predicted that it would do badly. Referring to the AIADMK’s performance vis-à-vis the DMK and the TVK, this district secretary points out that wherever the party finished third, its performance was better in areas where the DMK bagged the seats. For example, in over 70% of the constituencies (13 out of 18 constituencies) where the party was the runner-up, with the DMK being the winner, the AIADMK had netted at least 30% of the votes polled. But, wherever the TVK was the winner, the party could exceed the 30% mark only in 60% of the seats (15 out of 25). A similar trend can be seen where the AIADMK finished third, after the TVK and the DMK. “What one can infer from these findings is that the party’s vote base has been eroded more by the TVK than by the DMK,” the district secretary says.Petitions with SpeakerTuesday’s meeting is being held in the wake of Mr. Palaniswami removing 28 district secretaries and filling the vacancies caused by the dismissal. While the two camps have been holding deliberations on the next course of action, Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar has not yet taken action on the petitions for disqualification of legislators of the other camp. The Speaker told The Hindu on Monday: “They are under my consideration, and a decision will be taken at an appropriate time.” Published - May 18, 2026 10:49 pm IST
Former Minister S. Semmalai addresses a press meet announcing his resignation from the AIADMK, in Salem on May 18, 2026 | Lakshmi Narayanan In a big blow to former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, veteran AIADMK leader and former Minister S. Semmalai quit the party on Monday (May 18, 2026).Speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Semmalai, considered a strong supporter of Mr. Palaniswami, said that what has been happening in the AIADMK after the recent Assembly elections has caused him pain. “People know how former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had protected this party. But now, the AIADMK has become weak and no one in the party cares enough to strengthen it. To make the party strong, leaders and functionaries play important roles.”He added: “But currently, senior leaders are unable to develop the AIADMK. Without a clear plan to strengthen the party, it is impossible to save it. Ms. Jayalalithaa said that the AIADMK would endure in politics for 100 years. Right now, the leaders have not discussed or taken any decisions. If they do so, the party will return to a position of strength.”‘Senior leaders must iron out issues’Stating that former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa had trusted him with many key posts, he added: “After my decision to quit the party, AIADMK leaders, including Edappadi K. Palaniswami, should forego their egos, sort out the issues in the party, and save the AIADMK. What began as a people’s party, the AIADMK is now moving away from the people, and the party workers are suffering like children without a mother,” Mr. Semmalai added.To a question on whether the AIADMK was being divided due to some new entrants, he explained: “The AIADMK is a well-developed party. Anyone can be inducted into the party. People who joined the party newly should work for the party’s growth.”Rejecting “conspiracy theories,” Mr. Semmalai said that there is no conspiracy from outside the party. “All leaders should sit together and make a decision in one voice. There is a general secretary for the party, and the leaders should discuss it with him. The BJP is not the reason for the ongoing issues,” he said. He added that blaming Mr. Palaniswami, who has worked hard for the party since Jayalalithaa’s demise and during the elections, would not be fair. “Internal issues within the party are the reasons for the defeat. Even the MLAs who are supporting the TVK government are claiming Mr. Palaniswami is their general secretary,” he noted.He wanted the general council meeting to be convened so as to resolve the issues within the party. Mr. Semmalai said he was taking a break and would be staying at his daughter’s house in the U.S. next month, but hoped that things would be resolved by the time he returned. Published - May 18, 2026 02:16 pm IST
Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar interacting with sportspersons in his Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai on Sunday. | C.D. Prabhakar on Sunday said no specific time limit had been stipulated in the Assembly Rules or law for taking a decision on any letters submitted to the Speaker. However, he said the decision on the letters submitted by the two groups of AIADMK legislators would be taken within the framework of the law at an appropriate time.The Speaker’s remarks came against the backdrop of a vertical split in the AIADMK legislature party, with one group headed by the party’s general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and the rival group headed by former Minister S.P. Velumani.Mr. Prabhakar, who was elected as an MLA from Thousand Lights in Chennai, on Sunday inspected playgrounds at Gopalapuram, Valluvarkottam, and Gill Nagar. Speaking to reporters at Gopalapuram, he said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had been proactively monitoring all ongoing projects and had asked officials to ensure their expeditious completion.Under the Aayiram Vilakku Thoguthiyil Aayiram Panigal (Thousand Works in Thousand Lights) initiative, he said works had already begun to arrest sewage leakage and overflow on roads. Officials had been instructed to complete the work at the earliest. Mr. Prabhakar said those who use the Gopalapuram playground had raised concerns about the lack of adequate drinking water facilities. Further, they raised the issue of insufficient lighting. He had assured them that drinking water facilities would be arranged within a week. The demand for additional lighting would also be taken into consideration, he said.Mr. Prabhakar said arrangements for vehicle parking would be made at the boxing arena of the sports complex whenever it remained unused for sports activities.Mr. Prabhakar said this decision was taken based on requests from people who visit the playground by car and were unable to find space to park their vehicles.He had also instructed officials to inspect the playground and take action to prevent flooding, as there were concerns about water stagnation during heavy rain. Further, fitness equipment needed for the gym would be procured within 15 days.According to him, a three-day sports festival would be organised in Thousand Lights, and trophies would be distributed to the winners. Information regarding inspections would be conveyed to the respective ward councillors, and they were welcome to join him. Published - May 17, 2026 11:18 pm IST
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