AIADMK Faces Internal Turmoil as EPS Calls Rebels ‘DMK’s B-Team’ Amid Tamil Nadu Political Storm

Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is witnessing renewed turbulence as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) faces an intensifying internal revolt. The party, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), has been thrown into disarray after senior leader K. A. Sengottayan broke ranks to align with O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, both long-time rivals of EPS. This defection marks a major setback for Palaniswami’s leadership and signals the deepening of factional divides within one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest political forces.

EPS has lashed out at the defectors, branding them as “DMK’s B-Team,” accusing them of working hand-in-hand with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to weaken the opposition. His remarks came amid growing criticism that the AIADMK’s inability to project unity could give the DMK a decisive edge ahead of upcoming electoral battles.

The political turmoil coincides with a broader ideological clash between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK over alleged incidents involving Bihari migrant workers. A DMK representative sparked controversy with comments suggesting that “what happened in Bihar could happen here” if there were a change in government, prompting sharp responses from BJP leaders and sparking debates across the state.

Meanwhile, other southern states are facing their own set of challenges. Telangana, for instance, has been reeling under severe flooding in the Warangal and Hanamkonda districts, leading to widespread disruption of daily life and infrastructure damage. Amid these developments, former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has been inducted into the Telangana cabinet, a move that has drawn both political and public attention.

Adding to the charged atmosphere, a BJP leader’s son in Karnataka allegedly assaulted a toll booth worker, a case now drawing scrutiny and raising questions about political privilege and law enforcement.

Back in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK crisis is likely to reshape political alliances. The reunion of OPS, Dhinakaran, and Sengottayan could lead to a formidable alternative bloc within the opposition, complicating EPS’s efforts to retain control over the party machinery. Analysts suggest that the split may benefit the DMK in the short term by dividing the anti-DMK vote bank, but could also set the stage for new political realignments ahead of national elections.

As the AIADMK battles internal rebellion and the BJP-DMK rivalry sharpens, Tamil Nadu’s political theatre once again reflects the volatile blend of ideology, power struggles, and personality clashes that have long defined the state’s politics.