AIADMK leaders urge return of Sasikala and Dhinakaran

Senior AIADMK leaders SP Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan have launched a direct critique of General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, urging him to bring ousted leaders VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran back into the party.

In a joint appeal and letter, the leaders blamed Palaniswami's unilateral decision-making for the party's recent electoral losses. They specifically cited the failure to include Dhinakaran in the 2019 Lok Sabha alliance—despite suggestions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah—and the failure to form alliances with groups like DMDK or TVK in subsequent elections.

The dissidents also called for the reinstatement of over 400 expelled functionaries and members removed following internal rebellions. They expressed strong opposition to any potential alliance with the rival DMK, arguing such a move would contradict the party's ideological foundations. Velumani further criticized leadership for attempting to negotiate with the DMK after the recent assembly elections, a move that has reportedly deepened internal divisions among party MLAs.