Palaniswami Heads To Delhi Amid AIADMK Unity Talks, May Meet Amit Shah

Edappadi K. Palaniswami, general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), departed for New Delhi on Tuesday, with expectations of meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders. The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's trip occurs against a backdrop of internal party tensions, particularly calls from some factions to reintegrate expelled members, including those from splinter groups like the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). Accompanied by party veterans K.P. Munusamy and S.P. Velumani, Palaniswami's itinerary also includes potential discussions with Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The visit has fueled speculation about potential alliance strategies ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. A senior AIADMK leader asserted that the party's grassroots base remains firmly supportive of Palaniswami, whom they elected as general secretary. However, dissenting voices advocating for a merger with rival factions, such as those led by O. Panneerselvam and AMMK's T.T.V. Dhinakaran, have raised concerns.

Sources indicate Palaniswami intends to brief Shah on his consolidated leadership within the party, warning that readmitting such elements could undermine electoral prospects. This comes after BJP state chief Nainar Nagendran expressed openness to negotiations with Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran to realign them with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while affirming Palaniswami as the AIADMK's chief ministerial candidate.

Tamil Nadu's political landscape has long been dominated by Dravidian parties, with AIADMK and its rival DMK alternating power since the 1960s. The AIADMK, founded by M.G. Ramachandran in 1972, has faced schisms following the death of leader J. Jayalalithaa in 2016, leading to expulsions and factional battles.

Palaniswami, who led a merger of factions in 2022 to unify the party, expelled several leaders, including Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran, for alleged indiscipline. Recent appeals for reconciliation, including vandalism at the party headquarters—revered by members as a "temple"—have tested his authority. BJP, seeking to expand its southern footprint, views AIADMK as a key partner after their 2024 Lok Sabha alliance.

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Before leaving, Palaniswami addressed the merger issue at a party event marking the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai on September 15. He firmly stated that those responsible for damaging the headquarters have no place in the AIADMK and denied that his Delhi trip was to resolve internal disputes.

The discussions in the capital could shape the NDA's strategy in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP-AIADMK tie-up won 12 of 39 seats in the 2024 general elections but faces a formidable DMK-led alliance. As Palaniswami engages with national leaders, the focus remains on balancing party unity with broader electoral alliances.

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