The AIADMK's crucial process of screening potential candidates for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections was marred by unexpected drama on Saturday. A tense situation unfolded at the party's headquarters in Chennai when a woman arrived, claiming to be the daughter of the party's revered late leader, J. Jayalalithaa, and demanding to participate in the interviews.
Interview Process and Sudden Interruption
A high-level panel, led by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, was conducting interviews with aspirants from 16 district units. This exercise, which began on Friday, is a significant step for the party to shortlist candidates well ahead of the 2026 assembly election. The panel on Saturday covered aspirants from districts including Kanyakumari, Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, and Virudhunagar.
The proceedings were thrown into disarray when the woman, who identified herself as Prema alias Jayalakshmi from Pallavaram, reached the party office. She had previously submitted an application to contest from the Andipatti constituency in Theni district—a seat once represented by Jayalalithaa herself in 2002 and 2006.
Heated Exchange and Forced Exit
Party functionaries immediately blocked her entry at the gate, leading to a heated argument. According to sources, AIADMK cadres stopped the car she arrived in and asked her to leave the premises. The situation escalated briefly as she and her supporters were eventually forced to depart, causing a commotion outside the headquarters. Despite this interruption, the Palaniswami-led panel resumed and continued with the scheduled interviews.
Conflicting Claims and Party's Stance
Speaking to reporters later, Prema made serious allegations. She claimed that supporters of Edappadi K. Palaniswami had intimidated her and unjustly denied her the opportunity to attend the interview. "I submitted my application for the Andipatti constituency and came for the interview scheduled today," she stated, displaying a receipt for her application. "If they wanted to reject my application, they could have given me a proper reason. Instead, I was not even allowed to enter the party office."
She further asserted her long-standing association with the AIADMK, claiming that "mother" (Jayalalithaa) had personally signed her primary membership cards in 2002 and 2013. However, party sources strongly contested her claims. They maintained that she has not been a primary member of the AIADMK in recent years and outright rejected her assertions of being Jayalalithaa's daughter.
This incident highlights the ongoing emotional and political complexities surrounding the legacy of J. Jayalalithaa within the AIADMK, even as the party attempts to systematically prepare for the future electoral battle.
