MERGER BEFORE THE MANDATE?

The birth anniversary of CN Annadurai, a towering figure in Tamil Nadu's political history, brought into focus once again the deep fissures within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

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For decades, the party has invoked the ideals of Anna and his successor M G Ramachandran (MGR), projecting itself as a people's movement rooted in social justice and welfare. Yet, recent years have seen this legacy undermined by infighting, expulsions, and shifting allegiances. At the centre of the renewed debate lies the question of unity, with factional leaders-from VK Sasikala to O Panneerselvam, and from TTV Dhinakaran to KA Sengottaiyan-making impassioned calls for merger. Sasikala stressed the urgency of coming together before the 2026 Assembly elections, reflecting the growing sentiment among cadres that fractured leadership weakens the party's electoral prospects. Sengottaiyan too urged reconciliation by invoking Anna's principle of forgiveness, signalling that grassroots opinion favours unity over discord. Meanwhile, Palaniswami, as the party's general secretary, highlighted AIADMK's proud record of carrying forward Annadurai's vision for more than five decades. But the symbolism of speeches and tributes must be translated into concrete action, as the political context now demands not just memory of leaders past but the strategic consolidation of the organisation to remain relevant in the years ahead.