Veteran AIADMK leader Semmalai quits party

In a big blow to former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, veteran AIADMK leader and former Minister S. Semmalai quit the party on Monday (May 18, 2026).

Speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Semmalai, considered a strong supporter of Mr. Palaniswami, said that what has been happening in the AIADMK after the recent Assembly elections has caused him pain. “People know how former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had protected this party. But now, the AIADMK has become weak and no one in the party cares enough to strengthen it. To make the party strong, leaders and functionaries play important roles.”

He added: “But currently, senior leaders are unable to develop the AIADMK. Without a clear plan to strengthen the party, it is impossible to save it. Ms. Jayalalithaa said that the AIADMK would endure in politics for 100 years. Right now, the leaders have not discussed or taken any decisions. If they do so, the party will return to a position of strength.”

‘Senior leaders must iron out issues’

Stating that former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa had trusted him with many key posts, he added: “After my decision to quit the party, AIADMK leaders, including Edappadi K. Palaniswami, should forego their egos, sort out the issues in the party, and save the AIADMK. What began as a people’s party, the AIADMK is now moving away from the people, and the party workers are suffering like children without a mother,” Mr. Semmalai added.

To a question on whether the AIADMK was being divided due to some new entrants, he explained: “The AIADMK is a well-developed party. Anyone can be inducted into the party. People who joined the party newly should work for the party’s growth.”

Rejecting “conspiracy theories,” Mr. Semmalai said that there is no conspiracy from outside the party. “All leaders should sit together and make a decision in one voice. There is a general secretary for the party, and the leaders should discuss it with him. The BJP is not the reason for the ongoing issues,” he said. He added that blaming Mr. Palaniswami, who has worked hard for the party since Jayalalithaa’s demise and during the elections, would not be fair. “Internal issues within the party are the reasons for the defeat. Even the MLAs who are supporting the TVK government are claiming Mr. Palaniswami is their general secretary,” he noted.

He wanted the general council meeting to be convened so as to resolve the issues within the party. Mr. Semmalai said he was taking a break and would be staying at his daughter’s house in the U.S. next month, but hoped that things would be resolved by the time he returned.