AIADMK internal crisis deepens: EPS removes rebel leaders from party posts for backing Tamil Nadu CM Vijay in floor test

NEW DELHI: AIADMK's internal poltical turmoil deepened on Wednesday as party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami had removed the rebel leaders from their party posts. who supported Tamil Nadu CM Vijay on assembly floor.

A total of 25 political functionaries were removed by the AIADMK leadership, including senior leaders SP Velumani, C Ve Shanmugam and C Vijayabaskar, ANI reported. Among the major changes, Natham Viswanathan was removed from the posts of AIADMK deputy general secretary and Dindigul East district secretary, while C Ve Shanmugam was stripped of his roles as organising secretary and Villupuram district secretary.





The AIADMK chief simultaneously filled the vacant positions by appointing new district secretaries and party functionaries in place of the removed rebel leaders.

Meanwhile Shanmugam hit back at EPS saying, "After General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami assumed responsibility, not only have the defeats continued, but we should at least have been increasing our number of seats. Instead, with every election, our setbacks have become more severe, and we have been steadily declining."

"Today, when the General Secretary (EPS) is questioned about why we lost, he responds by asking, “Didn’t the AIADMK lose in 1996? Didn’t we lose in 2006 as well?” Yes, we did lose. But Puratchi Thalaivi Amma had the capability to bring the party back to power again. After every defeat, Amma would declare that she would restore MGR’s rule once more, and she succeeded in bringing the party back to office for a second term. It was Amma (Jayalalithaa) who delivered a massive victory in the 1998 Parliamentary elections. There was neither arrogance born out of victory nor a tendency to hide away after defeat," he added.

Further remembering late supremo J Jayalalithaa he said, "Amma’s sole objective was the success of the movement founded by MGR. She never carried the attitude that “I alone am supreme” or that everyone must come to her without question."

The move is being seen as one of the biggest internal disciplinary actions by the AIADMK leadership since the party’s post-election rebellion erupted following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

The disciplinary action followed an open rebellion within the party after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results, with a section of AIADMK legislators accusing EPS of weakening the party’s traditional anti-DMK stance and allegedly exploring an understanding with the DMK to prevent Vijay from coming to power.

The revolt became visible during Vijay’s trust vote, where rebel AIADMK MLAs supported the TVK-led government, helping it secure a majority in the 234-member Assembly. The episode has since triggered a wider leadership battle inside the AIADMK, with dissenting leaders demanding organisational changes and the return of expelled leaders to strengthen the party ahead of future elections.