Internal friction within the AIADMK party

During the AIADMK’s 55th foundation day, General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami called for party unity to address political challenges and electoral setbacks in Tamil Nadu. While Palaniswami emphasized strengthening the organization, senior leader C. Ve. Shanmugam publicly acknowledged internal friction and called for leadership introspection and a general council meeting to rebuild cadre confidence.

By the anniversary celebrations in Chennai, internal dissent became more visible as several dissident MLAs, including S.P. Velumani and C. Ve. Shanmugam, boycotted the event. Former minister P. Thangamani also held separate celebrations in his district, signaling continued friction. In response, loyalist ‘Agri’ S. Krishnamurthy criticized the rebels, accusing them of attempting to weaken the organization due to personal frustrations over ministerial positions and questioning the commitment of those who previously voted against the party whip.

In an effort to revitalize the party and attract younger voters following the 2026 Assembly elections, Palaniswami has reportedly explored recruiting actor Dhanush to a senior role to counter the influence of rival actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay. While Dhanush has not officially announced political plans, the transformation of his fan club into a welfare organization has fueled speculation. AIADMK leader K. T. Rajendra Balaji stated the party would welcome Dhanush ‘with open arms’ if he chooses to join.