With Delhi turning out to be the epicentre of the internal feud in the AIADMK, former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami will meet the BJP’s chief strategist and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday to sort out the issues in the wake of the rebellion led by AIADMK veteran K A Sengottaiyan.
Though EPS’ trip to Delhi is trotted to be a meeting with CP Radhakrishnan to wish him on his election as Vice President, sources close to him the unspoken purpose and agenda is a likely meeting Shah to iron out the recent crisis in the AIADMK, which is believed to have the saffron party’s imprint all over. And EPS, is accompanied by his trusted lieutenants at Shah’s court.
This development comes a week after Sengottaiyan issued a10-day ultimatum to EPS to initiate talks with expelled leaders O Panneerselvam (OPS), heading the AIADMK Workers Right Retrieval Committee and TTV Dhinakaran, running the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) as well as late Jayalalithaa’s confidant VK Sasikala.
His contention is that their homecoming is a must for the AIADMK to put up a united fight against the ruling DMK in the coming assembly election in early 2026.
Both OPS and Dhinakaran have walked out of the NDA after their expectations that the BJP national leadership would help their return to the AIADMK proved futile. Having stripped Sengottaiyan of his party posts, EPS has sent a strong signal that he is in no mood to accommodate those expelled.
But, the BJP national leadership has been entertaining the dissident leader and he was engaged by Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week in Delhi, indicating the saffron party’s role in the crisis.
When the AIADMK-BJP alliance was formalised, paving the way for the Dravidian party’s re-entry into the NDA, Sha had made it clear that the BJP would not interfere in the affairs of the AIADMK and left to the discretion of EPS. At the press meet, Shah, responding to a question, was categorical on this. However, Sengottaiyan had met Shah at Delhi on September 8, within days of EPS cracking the whip and removing him as AIADMK Organisation Secretary and Erode (Rural) District Secretary.
The dissident leader had also confirmed that he discussed with them the issues concerning the homecoming of expelled leaders, rattling EPS and his supporters. As such, it is the turn of EPS to take the matters to Sha’s court and this has strengthened the DMK-led combine’s criticism that the submissive AIADMK is beholden to the BJP.
“EPS is a shrewd politician who is measured in his moves and is capable of navigating challenges to his leadership. He can’t be expected to give up his leadership,” maintain sources close to him. Meanwhile, EPS’ campaign in Dharmapuri district slated for September 17 and 18 have been postponed to September 27 and 28.
Without losing hope, the rebel camp of Sengottaiyan and others too is maintaining a studied silence, placing their hope on the BJP leadership.