AIADMK Factional Strife Escalates as Senior Leader Skips Party Review

Cracks within the AIADMK's dissident faction deepened on Friday when former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam skipped the party's official review meeting for his district of Villupuram. In contrast, former Food Minister R. Kamaraj attended the session in Tiruvarur, highlighting the lack of unity among the dissidents.

Shanmugam's absence aligns with the stance taken by other dissident leaders including Natham R. Viswanathan, P. Thangamani, and S.P. Velumani. These leaders have been at odds with the party leadership since the reorganization of district secretaries, which saw many of them removed from their posts. About ten days ago, some other members of the faction, such as Leema Rose Martin and G. Hari, had participated in review meetings for their respective districts of Tiruchi and Tiruvallur, indicating a mixed response to the leadership's directives.

Many of these dissidents have not yet accepted the new positions offered by party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The group reportedly sent a letter to Palaniswami expressing their unwillingness to take up the new assignments, signaling continued defiance. Earlier this week, several supporters of Shanmugam announced their resignation from the AIADMK in protest against disciplinary action taken against certain district-level functionaries in Villupuram. This move underscores the deepening rift within the party's ranks.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK general secretary reviewed the party's performance in Salem and Tiruvallur (south), in addition to Villupuram and Tiruvarur. After the review session, the newly appointed secretary of Villupuram district, R. Pasupathy, told reporters that the party had been "doing well" lately. He held Shanmugam responsible for the party's defeat in three Assembly constituencies in the district, a charge that Shanmugam has not publicly responded to. Pasupathy's comments reflect the leadership's attempt to shift blame onto the dissidents.

In a separate statement, Palaniswami appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to take steps for the release of seven boats belonging to the Kasimedu fishing community, which were recently impounded by Andhra Pradesh government officials. He also called for efforts to protect the Kasimedu fishermen from "further harassment" by the neighbouring state government. This appeal highlights the party's focus on local issues even as internal conflicts persist.

The dissidents, many of whom are former ministers and senior leaders, have been pivotal to the party's organizational machinery. Their continued rebellion could weaken the party's grassroots network and provide an opening for opposition parties. Whether the leadership can reconcile with the dissidents remains to be seen, as the party gears up for future electoral challenges.