A jaggery trader turned AIADMK supremo: The rise of Edappadi K Palaniswami

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is almost on the verge of a split with two factions led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and Ottakarathevar Panneerselvam (OPS) moving in different directions.

On July 11, the AIADMK general council unanimously elected EPS as the party’s interim general secretary, with elections to the permanent post to be held in four months. Through this, from having a dual leadership formula, the party is moving to its successful unitary leadership mode once again, with EPS as its supremo.

Though OPS is likely to approach the court against the move, the EPS faction turned successful in not just abolishing the co-ordinator post held by OPS, but also expelling him from the party. What was even more embarrassing for OPS was the way in which he was booed at the general council meeting. Marking his supremacy, the new AIADMK general secretary has sacked 39 OPS supporters till now for alleged anti-party activities.

The rise

AIADMK politics was always driven by charismatic larger-than-life leaders like M G Ramachandran (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa, and compared to them, EPS may still be a lightweight. However, what his followers and political analysts cite as his plus points are his political acumen and humility, which helped him prevent the AIADMK government from sinking after the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016.

It was a time when V K Sasikala, an aide of Jayalalithaa, became general secretary of the party for a brief period. Though EPS was chosen CM by Sasikala, he later reached a dual leadership formula with OPS to keep Sasikala away from the party.

Coming from an agricultural family in Siluvampalayam near Salem, EPS is from the Karuppa Gounder community, a traditional vote bank of the AIADMK. Being a college dropout, reports indicate that he was an agriculturist and also a jaggery trader before trying his luck in politics. EPS was a loyal party worker starting from the 1970s when he became area secretary and climbed the ladder. However, his rise to prominence came after the battle between Jayalalithaa and MGR’s wife Janaki for supremacy in the party, following the death of MGR in 1987. EPS stood with Jayalalithaa in the battle and was rewarded with an assembly seat in 1989 from the Edappadi Assembly constituency.

It was in the post-2000s that he rose as a regional leader and became the face of the Gounder community. His prominence in the community helped Jayalalithaa storm back to power for a second term in 2016. In EPS’ home district, the AIADMK won 10 out of the 11 Assembly seats.

Achievements as chief minister

Many of EPS’ critics appreciate him for his work as chief minister for four years after Jayalalithaa’s death. While EPS managed the government, he allowed OPS to have a significant say in the party. Not just that, he also tactically handled the relationship with the Centre. What his supporters see as a significant achievement of EPS and probably the dual leadership is the way in which they managed to win 70 seats out of the 234-member Assembly, amid a DMK wave led by M K Stalin.

The pro-people initiatives and pro-industry image that he developed during his four-year stint as chief minister were also widely appreciated. He snatched a Rs 2,354-crore electric vehicle unit by Ola Electric Mobility from other states and was also instrumental in signing a Rs 4,684-crore deal with Tata Electronics for a mobile components manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri.  Even during Covid times, he managed to sign 70 deals, worth around Rs 60,000 crore of investment.

The road ahead as general secretary

According to analysts, the crisis time for the AIADMK is yet to start as it is facing tough competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A major challenge before the new leader will be to block the flow of the party followers towards the BJP. Unlike during the rift between Jayalalithaa and Janaki, both leaders are only regional satraps. 

“He is not yet accepted as a state-wide leader, neither is OPS.  Hence, I believe he should join hands with OPS again for a brighter future for the party. He may also have to face the challenge from the BJP as well,” said Tharasu Shyam, a senior political analyst. Another cause of concern before the AIADMK and its new leader is to compete with the rising popularity of Stalin. Within a year as chief minister, Stalin has developed a larger-than-life persona – leading from the front during the Covid, floods and in terms of bringing in fresh investments. This may well be a battle that EPS may be keeping for the future, with his first priority being the final winner in the battle for supremacy with OPS.