As internal factional infighting within the AIADMK continues to intensify, supporters of S.P. Velumani have been urging that he be made the party’s general secretary. In this situation, Senthilkumar, the AIADMK’s Kurichi area secretary in Coimbatore and a former councillor, descended into the fire pit at the Kurichi Gundathu Makkaliyamman temple and prayed with an S.P. Velumani banner.
Speaking to us about this, Senthilkumar said, “Given the current state of the AIADMK, only if someone like S.P. Velumani, a good and constructive young leader, comes in as general secretary can the party be saved. We have been facing defeat after defeat. Many leaders who were in the party have left. Even the cadres are gradually drifting away. Edappadi Palaniswami seems to have come in as the party’s general secretary almost by accident. In the same way, he was also chief minister by accident. It does not seem like anyone has willingly accepted him.”

Only if the leadership changes, as Jayalalithaa said, will this party live for more than a hundred years. Otherwise, the party will go into an even worse state. Because of this, I have made a prayer to the deity at the Kurichi Magaliyamman temple that S.P. Velumani should become the party’s general secretary. Only if this happens will the party remain healthy. Removing those who criticize Edappadi Palaniswami from the party is not a solution to the problem.
I have the right to express my opinion. I have been working in the party for forty years. If you compare the actions of M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa with those of Edappadi Palaniswami, he is at zero. The party needs a courageous leader. Edappadi Palaniswami does not care about the party’s continued defeats or about those who are leaving the party. He shows no initiative to retain them. How can a party be run without people? I am in the party for its ideology. Even if I am removed from my post, I will continue my journey in the party as a basic member,” he said.

