This is an archive article published on December 1, 2021
After remarks against BJP, AIADMK removes last known Muslim leader
A joint statement from AIADMK coordinator O Panneeraselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami said Raajhaa was removed from the party and all responsibilities for “anti-party activities”.
Senior AIADMK leader A Anwar Raajhaa, the minority face of the party from Ramanathapuram, was Tuesday night removed from the party’s primary membership following remarks critical of its alliance with the BJP. Raajhaa, who had been with the AIADMK since its formation by M G Ramachandran, has been backing V K Sasikala, the ousted AIADMK general secretary, to take over as leader of the party.
A joint statement from AIADMK coordinator O Panneeraselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami said Raajhaa was removed from the party and all responsibilities for “anti-party activities”.
Raajhaa joined the DMK in the 1960s, and moved to the AIADMK when it was formed.
Speaking to The Indian Express, senior AIADMK leaders regretted that it had become a party without Muslims with the removal of Raajhaa. “He criticised Palaniswami in district leaders’ meetings, but above all, it was his staunch opposition to the alliance with the BJP that invited this action. He blamed the alliance for the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.”
Earlier, in May this year, the AIADMK had taken action against party leader Nilofer Kafeel. A third senior Muslim year, Mohammed Jan, died last March.
Explained
Sign of inter-ADMK tussle
The AIADMK has been caught in an internal tussle over the question of its ties with the BJP. The removal of the only senior Muslim leader left in the party, Anwar Raajhaa, is also prompted by the inter-party fight between the Palaniswami and Paneerselvam factions, with Raajhaa seen to have the backing of Paneerselvam.
“These were leaders who ensured the minorities backed the AIADMK when Jayalalithaa was alive. However, things have changed since Palaniswami became CM,” said a leader, known to be a Raajhaa supporter.
Under Palaniswami, who has gradually acquired supremacy in the AIADMK since Jayalithaa’s death, the party has grown closer to the BJP. In fact, this association with the Centre was one of the reasons blamed for the AIADMK’s loss in the recent Assembly elections.
Story continues below this ad
The Palaniswami group is rivalled by Paneerselvam’s, who is believed to be more aligned with Sasikala, Jayalithaa’s close confidante who has been trying to retake control of the AIADMK since her release from jail. Sources said Paneerselvam had opposed the action against Raajhaa, taken ahead of the AIADMK executive council meeting Wednesday.
At the meeting, the AIADMK announced the appointment of Tamil Magan Hussain, a Muslim leader who was part of the MGR Mandram, as the interim presidium chairman of the party.
The meeting also formalised “dual leadership” in the party – with a coordinator and a joint coordinator at the top, instead of a general secretary. As per new rules, primary members will elect the coordinator and joint coordinator. Earlier, general council members elected those in the top posts.
The move is seen as a way to stop the easy re-entry of Sasikala into the party, with the choice opened to all primary members.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
