The rise of former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to the highest position in the AIADMK comes at a time when the party is going through a lean phase.
Since the Lok Sabha election in 2019, the party’s electoral track record has been below par. After losing power in the 2021 Assembly election, the party suffered a drubbing in the urban civic polls held in February. Even as it faces political heat from the DMK, its long-time adversary and the ruling party, the AIADMK appears to be losing the perception battle with the BJP, its ally, under the leadership of K. Annamalai, which has been positioning itself as an effective Opposition party.
It is against this backdrop that the expulsion of O. Panneerselvam has taken place. Though his base is limited to Theni district, there is a view in political circles that the party may find the going tough in many southern districts. It would be quite a challenge for the party to overcome the disadvantages that the absence of Mr. Panneerselvam, V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran may bring. For example, the AIADMK has not been able to regain its base in Virudhunagar - once considered a traditional stronghold - after Revenue Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu were put in charge of the DMK in the district.
