AIADMK leaders ‘satisfied’ with outcome of meeting with Amit Shah in New Delhi

The AIADMK’s team, led by general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, appears to be satisfied with its discussion with Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) night.  

A group of functionaries, who accompanied Mr. Palaniswami during his visit to New Delhi, claim there is “no confusion” between the two parties over issues such as the projection of the AIADMK general secretary as the candidate for the post of Chief Minister and the Dravidian major being given the primacy of place in the distribution of seats. These office-bearers observe that their party’s position of Mr. Palaniswami being the Chief Minister nominee has been recognised by the Union Minister.  

Also, on internal issues of the AIADMK, the national party’s attitude is one of “hands off.” Not much significance needs to be attached to MLA K. Sengottaiyan’s meeting last week with the Union Home Minister, the functionaries contend, adding that it was a “brief affair and a courtesy call.” The message from Mr. Shah is that the DMK regime should be brought to an end after the 2026 Assembly election, towards which the Dravidian party should strive.  

The AIADMK’s leaders do not see any hassle in the distribution of seats and are confident that their party will contest enough seats to secure a majority of its own. The Union Minister’s stand seems to be that his party should put up candidates in winnable seats and not focus on the number of constituencies, the AIADMK’s office-bearers say. 

On Wednesday, Mr. Palaniswami, on his social media handle, posted pictures of his meeting with Mr. Shah along with his colleagues. He also stated that a request had been placed with the Union Minister for conferring the Bharat Ratna title posthumously on Forward Bloc leader and former Member of Parliament, U. Muthuramalinga Thevar. 

On the eve of his departure for New Dehli, the AIADMK general secretary, while addressing a meeting in Chennai on Monday (September 15) night, did not name the BJP government at the Centre but asserted that no one in the Union government had “threatened” his party. “They had carried out beneficial deeds to us. When efforts were on to dislodge our government [during 2017-21], they had saved us. We should not forget what they did for us.”