AIADMK faces crisis as EPS suffers fresh electoral setback
Edappadi K. Palaniswami faces fresh scrutiny after All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s defeat, with Vijay’s TVK emerging stronger. The setback raises questions over AIADMK’s future and leadership amid shifting Tamil Nadu political dynamics
Chennai: For AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, electoral triumphs under his leadership have been elusive, prompting mocking references from rivals. Monday was no different.
AIADMK-led NDA bit the dust in the April 23 Assembly elections, in which actor Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single largest party. DMK came second.
The defeat is likely to raise questions over Palaniswami’s leadership, especially of the party for which he had squeezed out his then-rival O Panneerselvam from the race. From an ordinary AIADMK member to leading the party founded by the charming MGR, Palaniswami often cites his own case as an example of dreams coming true in the organisation that targets its archrival
DMK primarily for “dynasty politics.” “Anyone can lead this party,” he insists, especially in political rallies, questioning if this was possible in the DMK that was led by late M Karunanidhi since 1969, his son MK Stalin since 2018 and in all likelihood his son Udhayanidhi in the future.
His party’s loss, yet another under his leadership since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, will certainly raise questions over the future of the party as well as his leadership, with actor Vijay-led TVK threatening to replace the AIADMK as DMK’s principal challeger.
A low-profile leader with strong grassroots performance, Palaniswami literally shot into prominence when late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala, tipped to succeed ‘Amma’ post her demise but couldn’t do so due to a court case, hand-picked the Salem strongman for the top job in 2017.
EPS, as Palaniswami is addressed, not only steered the state through testing times during the covid pandemic, but also emerged as the single popular leader to displace his competetitor Panneerselvam from the leadership race in 2022. After five years of dual leadership, the party once again came under a single leader.
Born in 1954 in Salem district, Palaniswami was engaged in agriculture before joining electoral politics in 1974. He enrolled himself in the AIADMK and served as the party’s branch secretary of Koneripatti.
An avid fan of AIADMK founder, actor and charismatic leader, MG Ramachandran, fondly known as MGR, Palaniswami could not secure victory in the 1986 Siluvampalayam Panchayat Council elections. However, he continued to work in the party at the grassroot level.
From these early years he earned a reputation of a hardworking and dedicated functionary, which helped him consolidate influence within the party system. After the demise of MGR on December 24, 1987, the AIADMK split into two factions — one led by MGR’s wife late Janaki and another by J Jayalalithaa. Palaniswami chose to be with the Jayalalitha faction.
In 1989, he made his successful electoral debut to become MLA from the Edappadi assembly constituency under the ‘Rooster’ symbol, which was allotted to the Jayalalithaa faction by the Election Commission. Palaniswami was re-elected as legislator from Edappadi constituency in 1991, an election that the AIADMK swept with Jayalalaithaa’s maiden ascent to the CM’s chair.
Acknowleding his hard work, Jayalalithaa promoted Palaniswami as secretary of Salem district in 1991. He also served as the Chairman of the Salem District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union in 1993 and as the head of the Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation in 2001. He was promoted as AIADMK propaganda secretary in 2006. Though he lost the election in 1996 in Edappadi, Jayalalithaa fielded in parliamentary election at
Tiruchengode in 1998 which he won. He served as a Member of Parliament for only one year.
After winning the MLA election in 2011 once again from his stronghold Edappadi, Palaniswami handled important portfolios including highways and minor ports, giving him central responsibility for road infrastructure and connectivity projects across Tamil Nadu during the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime.
Following the demise of Jayalalithaa and the brief tenure of Panneerselvam as CM, Palaniswami was elected leader of the AIADMK legislative party in February 2017 and subsequently sworn in as the seventh Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Contrary to open statements, including from the opposition DMK, his ministry lasted a full term up to 2021, when he deftly handled challenges from within and outside the AIADMK.
AS CM, he launched several welfare and infrastructure oriented schemes, including canal and tank restoration initiatives and women safety focused programs. The 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation for government school students in medical admissions was seen as a standout initiative of the AIADMK veteran.
After the AIADMK’s defeat in the 2021 assembly elections, Palaniswami became Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In March 2023 he was unanimously elected to the post of general secretary of the AIADMK, the top organisation head.
