AIADMK split: Velumani faction willing to hold talks with Palaniswami on intra-party issues

AIADMK rebel leader S.P. Velumani, on Friday (May 15, 2026), expressed his faction’s willingness to hold discussions with party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on intra-party issues.

In a post on his social media handle, Mr. Velumani reiterated his group’s position about the need for analysing the reasons for the AIADMK’s defeat in the recent Assembly election. Referring to Mr. Palaniswami’s statement that he was ready to make any sacrifice, Mr. Velumani said that instead of driving out the people of the party, the general secretary should invite his faction for discussion, at least once.

Blaming Mr. Palaniswami for acting “arbitrarily” in stitching an alliance for the Assembly poll without “consulting” others, Mr. Velumani felt that the general secretary should have reached out to all his colleagues, at least after the defeat.