AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) held a key meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 16 September 2025. The closed-door discussion combined a demand to honour freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, and a subtle message on who leads the party within the National Democratic Alliance.
Bharat Ratna and Cultural Politics
According to party insiders, EPS formally requested that the Centre confer the Bharat Ratna on Thevar and rename Madurai Airport after him. Thevar is a widely respected figure in southern Tamil Nadu, and the demand is seen as a bid to cement AIADMK’s influence among Thevar/Mukkulathor communities before upcoming elections.
Leadership Assertion
The meeting also doubled as a platform for EPS to reinforce his position as AIADMK’s undisputed leader. He has repeatedly ruled out readmitting expelled leaders such as O. Panneerselvam, Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, and signalled to the BJP that alliance decisions in Tamil Nadu should go through him.
Alliance and Election Context
AIADMK rejoined the NDA earlier this year but the partnership remains under scrutiny ahead of 2026 assembly polls. EPS’s outreach to Shah, combined with the Thevar demand, is read by observers as an effort to shore up his bargaining power and consolidate his community base while keeping rivals at bay.
Optics and Public Statements
Before leaving for Delhi, EPS publicly denied that there were any plans to bring back former colleagues or change alliance equations. Yet the high-profile meeting with Shah highlighted the ongoing negotiations between state and central leaders over strategy, seats and symbolism.
Conclusion
By pairing a culturally resonant Bharat Ratna demand with a reminder of his authority inside AIADMK, Edappadi K. Palaniswami used his Delhi visit to send a clear signal to both his party and the BJP leadership. With elections approaching, the outcome of such moves could shape not just honours for historical figures but also the power dynamics of Tamil Nadu politics
