EPS' stand against unity a setback for AIADMK

'What is the current status of the AIADMK, that ruled Tamil Nadu for 30 years? What is the current status of the AIADMK, which has recorded consecutive victories that even the senior movement DMK could not achieve? All those who sprouted yesterday say that they are only competing with the DMK. If that is the case, what is our position..' AIADMK workers are bombarded with such questions.
While those who left the AIADMK... all those who were expelled are coming together and insisting on AIADMK unification, Edappadi Palaniswami is refusing to budge. All parties agree that Vijay will largely divide the anti-DMK votes in the 2026 assembly elections. Given this situation, questions also arise as to what is the reason for Edappadi Palaniswami's stubbornness.
After the death of the then Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa at the end of 2016, there was talk that the government would not last.. the party would not last. But when Edappadi Palaniswami took over as Chief Minister, OPS was the coordinator in the party. With EPS as the co-coordinator, Edappadi Palaniswami ran the government for the next four years.
Sasikala, who returned from prison, remained aloof, even though her supporters expected her to assimilate the AIADMK. After the defeat in the 2021 assembly elections, Edappadi Palaniswami, who established himself as the sole leader and general secretary of the AIADMK in 2022, expelled OPS from the party. EPS's allegation is that OPS looted MGR's Maligai  during the general council. Now, the 2026 poll would be a life or death for the AIADMK.
Sasikala, OPS, TTV, and others who have left or been expelled from the AIADMK are raising their voices that all AIADMK workers should unite. With the 2026 assembly elections approaching, the question of why Edappadi Palaniswami is so stubborn against unity. The administrators have also started wondering why Edappadi Palaniswami is afraid of and why he is preventing the party from uniting.
At this time, why is EPS stubborn even after Sasikala and OPS have come to the point of giving up the party leadership? The blatant truth is that Edappadi Palaniswami fears that if TTV, OPS, and Sasikala enter the party, his leadership will be affected.
In this situation, Edappadi Palaniswami has announced today that he has removed Sengottaiyan from all party posts of the AIADMK, including the Organizing Secretary and the Erode Suburban West District Secretary. This is something that was expected. This action has revealed that Edappadi Palaniswami is firm in his decision not to re-induct OPS, Sasikala and Dinakaran into the party.
 So, it is a fact that another rift has arisen in the AIADMK. Whatever Sengottaiyan's next move may be, it will be a major setback for the AIADMK led by Edappadi Palaniswami, especially in the Kongu region!