3 weeks ago
Velumani, Viswanathan urge EPS to bring Sasikala, Dhinakaran back
In the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, there is a big political party called the AIADMK that competes in elections, a bit like a sports team.
The team captain is Mr. Palaniswami, also known as EPS.
Two senior team members, Mr. Velumani and Mr. Viswanathan, are upset with him.
They think he made many big decisions by himself without asking others first.
They say those decisions caused the team to lose several elections.
They want him to invite two former members, V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, to come back and help the team.
They also wanted the team to join forces with another group called the TVK before the 2026 election.
The two leaders say about half of the team's lawmakers agree with them, which shows the team is divided.
They ask their captain to forgive past mistakes and bring everyone together so the team can become strong again.
Senior AIADMK leaders and former ministers S.P. Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan held General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) responsible for the party's defeats in the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
They urged EPS to reinstate V.K. Sasikala and AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, arguing a broader organisation was needed to revive the party ahead of the 2031 Assembly election.
The duo demanded the restoration of more than 400 functionaries removed after the 2026 election and cited the "forget and forgive" approach of founders M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa.
They alleged EPS rejected alliances with TVK, the BJP, PMK, DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam and Dhinakaran's camp, including an Amit Shah-facilitated proposal in 2021 that O. Panneerselvam backed, and held DMK talks without consulting senior leaders.
They claimed 25 of the party's 47 MLAs opposed decisions against the founders' legacy, and that rejecting BJP alliance overtures helped the DMK-Congress alliance sweep all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- Who
- Senior AIADMK leaders and former ministers S.P. Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan, in a joint representation to party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).
- What
- They urged EPS to bring V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran back into the AIADMK and blamed his unilateral decisions for electoral defeats and missed alliances in 2021, 2024 and 2026.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, with the joint representation released in Chennai.
- When
- On a Sunday, after the 2026 Assembly election and a day before the leaders were assigned to lead the party's August 14 protests; no exact date was given.
- Why
- To revive the party through reconciliation and prepare it for the 2031 Assembly election after successive electoral setbacks.
Dissenting leaders (Velumani, Viswanathan)
EPS-led leadership
Reintegration of Sasikala and Dhinakaran
Dissenting leaders (Velumani, Viswanathan)
Bringing V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran back would create a broader organisation needed to revive the party after successive defeats.
EPS-led leadership
Under EPS, the party has kept the two leaders outside the fold, and the general secretary has so far not accepted the demand for their return.
Alliance strategy
Dissenting leaders (Velumani, Viswanathan)
EPS's unilateral decisions missed alliance opportunities with TVK, the BJP, PMK, DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam and Dhinakaran's camp in 2021, 2024 and 2026, causing repeated defeats.
EPS-led leadership
EPS chose his own partnerships, rejecting the Dhinakaran-linked alliance in 2021 and the BJP's overtures before 2024, and later explored an alliance with the DMK over government formation.
Consultation and party inclusivity
Dissenting leaders (Velumani, Viswanathan)
EPS sidelined party veterans, removed more than 400 functionaries and took decisions on electoral strategy without consulting senior leaders, deepening divisions.
EPS-led leadership
The leadership created new posts such as deputy general secretary and assigned leaders to lead district protests, indicating it considered its own management of the party reasonable.
Key facts
- Party
- AIADMK
- Statement by
- S.P. Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan
- Addressed to
- Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), General Secretary
- Leaders sought to be brought back
- V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran
- MLAs opposing leadership moves
- 25 of 47 AIADMK MLAs
- Functionaries seeking restoration
- More than 400
- 2024 Lok Sabha result
- DMK-Congress alliance won all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
- Upcoming protests
- August 14, against the TVK government in Ramanathapuram and Theni districts
Sources
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