Ex-CM Panneerselvam Revives AIADMK Reunion Hopes

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on September 10, 2025, threw his weight behind efforts to unify the fractured All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), endorsing Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dhinakaran and AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan. Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Panneerselvam expressed unwavering support for reuniting expelled leaders to revive the party’s legacy, while clarifying he has no specific demands for rejoining the AIADMK himself.

Panneerselvam, a confidante of late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, emphasized that unification is essential to uphold the ideals of party founder MGR and Jayalalithaa. “Only through unity can we realize their vision,” he said, praising Sengottaiyan’s push to bring back ousted leaders, including himself, Dhinakaran, and VK Sasikala. Sengottaiyan, recently relieved of his party posts after setting a 10-day deadline for reunification, received Panneerselvam’s full backing. “My best wishes, let his demands succeed,” he added, expressing confidence in the initiative’s success.

Commenting on Dhinakaran’s stance that he would consider rejoining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is not named the chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 Assembly election, Panneerselvam called it a “good opinion.” He remained non-committal on accepting Palaniswami as the CM candidate, noting, “Several issues need to be discussed,” citing six pending court cases related to the AIADMK’s leadership dispute as part of their “Dharma Yudham” (righteous battle).

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Panneerselvam dismissed speculations of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempting to divide the AIADMK, stating he had not received any invitations from BJP’s top leaders in Delhi, unlike Sengottaiyan, who met Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman on September 9 to discuss unification. “There are no friends or enemies in politics; anything can happen in the future,” he remarked, hinting at potential political realignments as the 2026 elections approach.

The AIADMK, which has faced electoral setbacks since Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, is at a crossroads, with internal factions vying for control. Panneerselvam’s support for Dhinakaran and Sengottaiyan signals a potential shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, raising hopes of a united front to challenge rivals in the upcoming polls. As legal battles and political maneuvers unfold, the party’s future hangs in the balance, with unification efforts poised to shape its electoral prospects.

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