States » SouthPosted at: Oct 17 2026 8:43PM


Disgruntled leaders skip AIADMK's 55th Founding day fete, SPVelumani backs EPS’s unity call, wants OPS back in party

Chennai, Oct 17 (UNI) The Opposition AIADMK, which has been beset with multiple problems, including successive poll losses and largescale defections to the ruling TVK, on Saturday celebrated its 55th Founding day in a grand manner, with key dissident leaders including party strongmen and former Ministers S.P.Velumani and C.Ve.Shanmugam boycotted it, fuelling intra-party differences further.
Though boycotting the fete, Velumani backed party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami's call for unity and demanded bringing back estranged leaders, including former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam, now with the DMK, into the party to strengthen the organisation.
Velumani dismissed speculation that he might leave the party and join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). “Why should I leave the AIADMK that gave me an identity in politics?” he asked, while expressing confidence that Palaniswami would unite the party and restore its former strength.
“Everyone should come together to strengthen the AIADMK. Even OPS should come back,” Velumani said, adding that he believed Palaniswami would lead the efforts to reunite the party.
Referring to the AIADMK’s defeat in the recent bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, considered as party's strongholds, Velumani called for strengthening the party at the grassroots and providing opportunities to cadres who had worked for its growth. He expressed confidence that the party would regain power, following the legacy of Party Founder and former Chief Ministers MGR and J.Jayalalithaa.
Velumani also clarified that he had no ambition to become the party’s general secretary and that Palaniswami would continue in the post and lead the party.
The dissident leaders, who had close door meetings after the bypoll rout, has been reiterating their demand to convene the GC meet to discuss the prevailing situation, while ensuring their continuance in the party with EPS at the helm.
However, EPS said the GC meet would be convened at an appropriate time. As per party bylaws, it should be convened once a year and it would generally be held in December.
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Tags: #Disgruntled leaders skip AIADMK's 55th Founding day fete# SPVelumani backs EPS’s unity call# wants OPS back in party
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