O. Panneerselvam welcomes Sengottaiyan’s call for unity among AIADMK factions; Edappadi Palaniswami cancels interaction with farmers in Theni

Expelled AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam, on Friday (September 5, 2025), welcomed senior AIADMK leader K.A. Sengottaiyan’s call for readmitting all factions of the party.

After garlanding the statue of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar (V.O.C.) on his 154^th birth anniversary at Bodinayakkanur in Theni district, Mr. Panneerslevam told reporters that Mr. Sengottaiyan’s clarion call should be taken in the right perspective. The need of the hour is to unite and readmit everyone into the AIADMK, which alone would bring back the lost sheen of the organisation.

In the past five years, the AIADMK had suffered successive electoral defeats, something not experienced in the history of the party founded in 1972. Instead of neglecting the appeal, sinking differences would take the party to the glorious days, he believed.

EPS cancels interaction with farmers

In another development, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who has been on a whirlwind tour across Tamil Nadu, cancelled a scheduled interaction with farmers in Theni. No reason was assigned.

Party functionaries said Mr. Palaniswami garlanded the portrait of V.O.C. in Theni and held discussions with senior leaders. In the evening, he is expected to begin his roadshow from Cumbum, Bodinayakkanur and Theni.

AIADMK leaders react

Senior leaders Dindigul C. Srinivasan, Natham R. Viswanathan and others garlanded the V.O.C. statue in Dindigul. When asked for their comments on Mr. Sengottaiyan’s appeal for unity, Mr Srinivasan said it was for the party general secretary to take a call. “We are all with Mr. Palaniswami and he is the right person to take the decision on such affairs,” he added.