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New Delhi: Internal tensions within the AIADMK came into the open on Monday after rival factions in the party submitted competing claims for the post of legislature party leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. This exposed growing unease over the party’s leadership after its dismal performance in the recent elections.

The dispute surfaced ahead of Assembly proceedings, with separate groups of AIADMK MLAs reportedly holding parallel meetings before approaching the Speaker’s office with different nominations. One faction backed senior leader S.P. Velumani for the legislature party leader’s post, while the camp loyal to former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) maintained that he remained the rightful leader of the party in the House.

Rival camps stake competing claims

According to reports, leaders aligned with Velumani argued that the party needed a reset after its poor electoral showing and claimed that a majority of AIADMK MLAs were in favour of new leadership inside the Assembly. The EPS faction, however, insisted that as AIADMK general secretary, Palaniswami alone had the authority to appoint the legislature party leader and whip under party rules.

The public display of rival camps arriving separately and staking parallel claims has intensified speculation about deeper divisions within the AIADMK. Reports also suggested that some MLAs from the anti-EPS bloc could be open to backing the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, further proof of impending rift and possibility of a division of the party.

Election setback revives old fault lines

The latest confrontation comes at a difficult moment for the AIADMK, which has struggled to fully stabilise after the deaths of former Chief Ministers J. Jayalalithaa and M.G. Ramachandran. Although EPS consolidated control of the party after a prolonged leadership battle with O. Panneerselvam, dissatisfaction within sections of the organisation appears to have resurfaced after the election defeat.

The current tussle reflects deeper uncertainty within the AIADMK over its future direction and leadership. Especially so at a time when the party is attempting to rebuild itself as the principal opposition force in Tamil Nadu after TVK’s spectacular performance in the state. For many the standoff has revived memories of earlier splits in the AIADMK after the deaths of party icons M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, when rival factions battled for control of the party and its influential “Two Leaves” symbol.