The Unraveling of a party Once Feared
politics in tamil Nadu has never been for the faint-hearted. It demands strategy, steel nerves, and the ability to hold together egos bigger than the party office itself. But what we’re witnessing today feels less like strategy and more like survival mode.
Ever since the 2021 assembly defeat, the AIADMK—once a political fortress—has looked increasingly fragile. And at the center of this turbulence stands Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the man who was expected to steady the ship but instead appears to be narrowing it to a one-man raft.
1️⃣ Coalition Politics: DMK Expands, AIADMK Shrinks
While AIADMK has been busy fighting internal fires, M. K. Stalin and the DMK have been playing long chess.
The DMK’s careful alignment within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc and outreach to smaller players has created a perception of momentum and inclusivity. Whether one agrees with their politics or not, the optics are clear: they’re expanding.
Meanwhile, AIADMK feels like it’s contracting.
2️⃣ The delhi Factor: Pressure or Paralysis?
tamil Nadu politics has always had a complicated relationship with the Union Government. The BJP-led Centre’s agencies—CBI and ED—hover over opposition leaders across India. It’s a political reality.
The question critics raise is simple: where is the assertiveness?
Instead of roaring opposition politics, EPS’s stance often looks cautious, calculated—some say overly careful. In a state that respects defiance and strong posturing, that perception hurts.
3️⃣ The Expulsion That Split the Base
When O. Panneerselvam was expelled, it wasn’t just about removing a rival. It was about redefining the party’s future.
OPS was not just a faction leader; he represented a slice of AIADMK’s legacy voters. The split weakened grassroots cohesion. In politics, unity isn’t optional—it’s oxygen.
4️⃣ Veterans Walking Away
When senior figures like K. A. Sengottaiyan distance themselves, it sends signals beyond the headlines.
Veterans are institutional memory. They carry credibility in districts where party flags are older than many current office-bearers. Losing them—or sidelining them—creates cracks that opponents quickly exploit.
5️⃣ From Movement to Management?
AIADMK was built as a mass movement, not a tightly controlled boardroom. It thrived on charisma, emotional connection, and larger-than-life leadership under mgr and Jayalalithaa.
Today, critics argue it feels managerial rather than magnetic.
politics in tamil Nadu is a theatre. It demands narrative, conviction, and visible courage. Without that spark, even a powerful legacy brand begins to fade.
The Bigger Question
History can be ruthless.
Was EPS consolidating control to rebuild the party his way? Or was he shrinking the circle so tightly that the party itself began to suffocate?
Right now, AIADMK stands at a crossroads. One path leads to reinvention and resurgence. The other leads to fragmentation and irrelevance.
In politics, survival is not leadership. Leadership is about expansion, inclusion, and vision.
The coming elections won’t just test vote shares—they will test whether EPS is remembered as the man who rebuilt a wounded party… or the one who let it slip away while trying to hold on too tightly.
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