The AIADMK’s comprehensive defeat in the urban local bodies elections may trigger a demand for changes in the way the party is being run and for the accommodation of side-lined former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala.
The setback was more severe for the party than otherwise as Theni and Salem, the home districts of coordinator O. Panneerselvam and co-coordinator Edappadi K. Palaniswami respectively, went the DMK way.
Other western districts, a traditional stronghold of the party, have deserted the AIADMK. As per the party position at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, the AIADMK could win only seven out of 60 wards in the Salem corporation and three out of 100 in Coimbatore, which is the home district of former Local Administration Minister S.P. Velumani.
