A major thaw was witnessed within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Wednesday as rival factions within the party moved towards reconciliation, signalling a possible end to recent internal tensions. Rebel legislators led by former Tamil Nadu minister S P Velumani met party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at his residence and extended their support to his leadership, according to party sources.
The meeting is being viewed as a significant development for the AIADMK, which has witnessed factional disagreements in recent weeks over the party’s political strategy and leadership decisions. Around 13 MLAs accompanied Velumani during the meeting with Palaniswami, indicating a broad effort to restore unity within the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu.
However, the absence of former state minister C Ve Shanmugam drew attention. Shanmugam had earlier joined Velumani and several other legislators in demanding that the party support the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). His decision not to attend the reconciliation meeting has fuelled speculation that some differences may still persist within sections of the party.
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Soon after the discussions with Palaniswami, Velumani, accompanied by former minister Dr C Vijayabaskar, supporting MLAs, and senior party leaders including Agri S S Krishnamurthy, met Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar. During the meeting, they submitted a formal letter informing the Speaker that all factions would function together as a united party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
The move is seen as an attempt to prevent further divisions within the AIADMK legislative wing and reinforce Palaniswami’s authority ahead of key political developments in the state. Party insiders said the leadership has been working to consolidate support and avoid public disagreements that could weaken the party’s position against the ruling DMK.
In another important development, Vijayabaskar withdrew the earlier letter he had submitted to the Speaker seeking recognition as the party whip. The withdrawal is being interpreted as a gesture aimed at easing tensions and reaffirming loyalty to the party leadership under Palaniswami.
Political observers believe the latest developments could help stabilise the AIADMK at a crucial time, especially as regional political equations continue to shift in Tamil Nadu with the emergence of newer political forces such as TVK. While the reconciliation effort appears to have brought temporary unity, questions remain over whether all dissenting leaders within the party will fully align with the current leadership in the coming months.
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