V.K. Sasikala, the former AIADMK leader once close to the late J. Jayalalithaa, is pushing hard for unity among the party’s fractured groups. On Monday, she urged all factions to come together before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, saying party workers across the state desperately want a strong, united AIADMK to take on the ruling DMK.
Speaking to reporters at her Poes Garden home in Chennai, Sasikala made it clear: “Everyone in AIADMK wants the factions to unite before the 2026 polls. I want it too.” She stressed that reconciliation is key to the party’s success, but admitted it’s no easy task. “Rejecting someone is simple, but accepting them back takes time and effort,” she said. Her goal? End DMK’s rule and bring back the golden “Amma” days of Jayalalithaa’s leadership.
Sasikala called on everyone to let go of past fights. “Forget what happened before. Let’s move forward on a positive note,” she added. She promised her efforts would focus on merging the groups and winning big for AIADMK.
Her words struck a chord with senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, who’s been a big voice for unity. From Erode, he echoed the call: “Let’s forget and forgive to make AIADMK stronger.” Sengottaiyan had earlier given party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami a 10-day deadline to bring back expelled leaders like Sasikala.
Not everyone agrees fully, though. T.T.V. Dhinakaran, head of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and another expelled AIADMK figure, welcomes unity but draws a line. He won’t back Palaniswami as the chief ministerial candidate for 2026. Dhinakaran recently cut ties with the BJP, which still sees Palaniswami as its top pick.
On the alliance front, BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K. Nainar Nagendran showed some flexibility. He hinted at talks to pull Dhinakaran and former CM O. Panneerselvam back into the NDA fold for a bigger coalition.
With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approaching fast, this push for AIADMK unity could reshape the state’s politics. A united front might challenge DMK’s hold, but deep divisions remain a hurdle for the party’s revival.
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