EPS Announces Membership Drive From April 5 In His First Statement As AIADMK General Secy

The announcement of EPS is viewed as vital since DMK has announced the launch of a drive to enroll 1 crore new members from April 3. 

After taking over as the General Secretary of AIADMK, Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a membership drive to induct new members into the party on Tuesday. 

In the first statement as general secretary, EPS said that new members can enroll in the party and the existing cadre can renew their membership. 

The announcement of EPS is viewed as important since DMK has also announced the launch of a drive to enroll 1 crore new members from April 3. 

EPS has also taken over the realms just a year before Lok Sabha elections 2024 and when the party has a strained relationship with the BJP. 

Talking to IANS, sources in the AIADMK said, "The overwhelming opinion in the party is to break the relationship with the BJP and to get maximum seats in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 and reassert the position of the party in state politics."

The relationship between AIADMK and BJP took a hit after BJP social media team members started floating to AIADMK. After BJP's IT wing president CTR Nirmal Kumar quit BJP and joined AIADMK, around 15 members quit the saffron party to join AIADMK.

The party has been sore over the back-to-back insulting remarks made by BJP state President K. Annamalai. According to party sources, a majority of senior AIADMK leaders want the leadership to snap the relationship with the BJP and scout for new partners.

EPS also has a responsibility to increase the vote bank of the party. Though the temporary end to the leadership row will help the party gain the trust of the voters, it is well-known that the party is likely to lose the Thevar vote bank. The expelled leaders OPS and Sasikala are from the strong Thevar community. 

Earlier, AIADMK members revealed that the party has initiated talks with parties including VCK, NTK and DMDK parties.