After Amma: AIADMK's struggle to fill the void left by Jayalalithaa
Times of India
by ABHISHEK MISHRAFebruary 24, 2026
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After the death of J Jayalalithaa nearly a decade ago, the AIADMK party has grappled with leadership struggles, electoral setbacks, and shifting alliances, struggling to fill the void left by its iconic leader. Known as "Amma," Jayalalithaa was a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics, whose influence and mass appeal made her indelible. However, without her charismatic leadership, the party has been divided by internal conflicts, with factions battling for control and failing to reclaim its dominance.
The AIADMK's decline began after Jayalalithaa's passing in 2016, as senior leaders O Panneerselvam (OPS) and Edappadi Palaniswamy (EPS) fought over the party's leadership. OPS briefly held the chief minister position but was soon replaced by EPS, who later distanced himself from OPS, leading to a bitter legal dispute over their authority. This infighting weakened the party's unity and allowed its traditional rival, the DMK led by MK Stalin, to gain political ground.
The AIADMK's struggles have been further compounded by electoral defeats. In the 2021 assembly elections, it suffered a major loss to the DMK, marking another setback in its efforts to recover from Jayalalithaa's absence. As Tamil Nadu prepares for the next assembly elections in 2026, the party faces a daunting challenge: can it overcome its internal divisions and rebuild its political influence? Prime Minister Modi has acknowledged Jayalalithaa's legacy as a charismatic leader and welfare-driven administrator, but her absence leaves a significant
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/24/2026