In a dramatic escalation of the internal rift within the AIADMK, expelled leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) launched a blistering verbal assault on the party's general secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), on Tuesday. Addressing his supporters, OPS branded EPS a "traitor" and declared his unwavering mission to bring an end to his rival's political career.
A Gathering of Grievances
The fiery remarks were delivered at a meeting of the AIADMK Cadres' Rights Retrieval Kazhagam in Chennai. Panneerselvam left no room for ambiguity, stating that the sole objective of his newly renamed outfit is to combat EPS, whom he holds responsible for leading the AIADMK into a series of 11 consecutive electoral defeats. "In politics, a traitor is more dangerous than an enemy," OPS asserted, capturing the depth of his resentment.
He expressed profound disappointment, saying he felt "ashamed even to utter Palaniswami's name." OPS accused EPS of systematically dismantling the party's dual leadership structure, selling the illusion that a single command under him would guarantee victory. "Instead, the party has suffered 11 electoral defeats under his leadership and has been pushed into a deep pit," he lamented.
Electoral Evidence and a New Deadline
To substantiate his claims, OPS pointed to the dismal performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He highlighted that the AIADMK lost its security deposit in seven constituencies, which encompass 42 assembly segments, and was relegated to third place in 14 constituencies. This, he argued, is direct proof of the leadership's failure.
Indicating a significant strategic shift, OPS announced that a new path for his group will emerge next month. He invoked the Tamil proverb, "Thai pirandhal vazhi pirakkum" (the birth of the Tamil month of Thai opens a new way), hinting at a major political realignment in the coming weeks. This hardening of stance coincides with a perceived lack of positive signals from the BJP regarding a potential alliance with his faction.
Echoes from the Camp and Internal Consensus
OPS's sentiments found strong support from his allies. Former AIADMK minister Vaithilingam echoed the criticism with a vivid analogy, comparing the party's current state under EPS to "Kurangu kaiyil agapatta poomalai" (a garland caught in a monkey's hands). "The AIADMK today is like that garland in the hands of EPS. He has no understanding of the party's legacy or values," Vaithilingam stated.
Ahead of the public meeting, OPS held confidential discussions with district secretaries and senior leaders to evaluate future options. A senior functionary and former MP from the Madurai region revealed that there was a clear consensus to oppose EPS aggressively and work towards terminating his political journey. This meeting followed the lapse of a December 15 deadline that the OPS camp had set for EPS to respond to reunification talks, a deadline postponed after Panneerselvam's visit to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The recent rebranding of OPS's committee into a 'Kazhagam' is a clear signal of its evolution into a full-fledged political entity, setting the stage for a renewed and intensified confrontation in Tamil Nadu's political arena.
