EPS's Decade of Decline: How AIADMK Lost MGR and Jayalalithaa's Political Legacy Under His Leadership

The political leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami is facing renewed scrutiny within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam following a series of electoral setbacks and growing rebellion within the party ranks. Critics argue that the AIADMK, once shaped by the mass appeal of legendary leaders M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, has steadily lost its political identity and organizational strength under EPS’s leadership after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016.

The transition of power after Jayalalithaa’s demise triggered a major political crisis within the party. While O Panneerselvam was widely seen as Jayalalithaa’s trusted stand-in, the political equation changed after the imprisonment of V K Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case. Sasikala eventually selected EPS as chief minister, believing he would remain loyal to her faction. However, EPS later consolidated his control over the party by aligning temporarily with OPS and removing Sasikala from the AIADMK leadership structure, a move that dramatically reshaped the internal balance of power.

Political observers and party insiders claim that EPS’s efforts to centralize authority weakened the AIADMK’s traditional support base, particularly among influential communities in southern Tamil Nadu. OPS, Sasikala, and T T V Dhinakaran all belonged to the influential Thevar community, which had historically formed a key pillar of AIADMK’s electoral strength. Critics allege that sidelining these leaders shifted the party’s power center toward western Tamil Nadu and leaders from the Gounder community, leading to resentment among grassroots cadres and weakening the party’s once broad social coalition.

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Another major criticism directed at EPS concerns his repeated alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party despite the BJP’s limited electoral success in Tamil Nadu. Opponents within the AIADMK argue that the alliance alienated minority voters and sections of traditional Dravidian supporters who had previously backed the party under Jayalalithaa. The criticism intensified after AIADMK suffered multiple electoral defeats while contesting alongside the BJP. Party insiders reportedly believe that the perception of dependence on the BJP damaged the AIADMK’s independent political image in the state.

EPS has also faced criticism for failing to secure an alliance with actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, before the recent state election. Political analysts note that Vijay had avoided directly targeting the AIADMK during the campaign, fuelling speculation about a possible alliance. However, EPS chose to renew ties with the BJP instead. After the election delivered a fractured mandate and TVK emerged as the single largest party, sections within AIADMK reportedly favored supporting a TVK-led coalition, but no agreement materialized as Vijay moved quickly to form the government with the backing of other opposition parties.

The latest internal crisis has further deepened uncertainty surrounding EPS’s future leadership. During a recent trust vote, 25 of the AIADMK’s 47 MLAs reportedly voted in favor of the TVK government, openly challenging the party leadership. Rebel legislators are now demanding a General Council meeting, arguing that four consecutive electoral defeats have weakened EPS’s authority. While EPS continues to defend his leadership and insists the AIADMK’s vote share survived because of his efforts, many within the party fear that the organization founded by MGR and strengthened by Jayalalithaa is struggling to preserve its identity, internal democracy, and mass appeal amid continuing political divisions.

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