AIADMK-led Alliance
AbbreviationAIADMK+
ChairpersonEdappadi K. Palaniswami
FounderM. G. Ramachandran
Founded1977
IdeologyBig tent
Factions:
Populism
Socialism
Secularism[1]
Progressivism
Social equality
Tamil nationalism[2][3]
Social democracy[4]
Political positionCentre to Centre-left
Colours  Green
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
4 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
62 / 234
Seats in Puducherry Legislative Assembly
0 / 30
Number of states and union territories in government
0 / 31

The AIADMK-led Alliance is an Indian regional political alliance in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

History

AIADMK Party founder and then General Secretary M. G. Ramachandran formed the alliance, consisting of Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and faced the party's first ever general election post emergency in 1977. Though that election resulted in a heavy defeat for the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi led Indian National Congress (INC) at national level, The AIADMK -Congress Alliance swept Tamil Nadu by winning 34 out 39 lok sabha seats in the state. The Janata Party won the election at the centre. After the election, the AIADMK ended up supporting the Janata Party under Morarji Desai. In 1979, AIADMK continued to support Janata Party, by supporting Charan Singh Government, which resulted in the appointment of two AIADMK cabinet members, making it the first time a non-Congress Dravidian Party member making it to the council of ministers at the national level.[5]

AIADMK won the 1977 Tamil Nadu Assembly election with its allies defeating its rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and M. G. Ramachandran (simply known as M.G.R in the state) was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time.

1980 Lok Sabha Election, AIADMK - Janata Party Alliance faced an upset defeat in hands of Congress - DMK alliance, by winning only won 2 seats in Tamil Nadu.[6] Congress-DMK won 37 out of 39 seats victory in that election which emboldened their alliance and made them think that people lost their faith in M. G. Ramachandran government in the state. Under DMK's pressure, The AIADMK ministry and the Tamil Nadu assembly were dismissed by the Indira Gandhi government on grounds of civil disorder due to Farmers protest for electricity subsidy. Tamil Nadu assembly election was held in 1980, In which the AIADMK with its allies CPI, CPI(Marxist) won 162 seats and its leader and incumbent Chief Minister MGR was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time. After this Election, Congress came close to the AIADMK.[7]

In the wake of Chief Minister MGR's hospitalization in New York City and subsequent Assassination of Indira Gandhi, newly assumed Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi felt that his Government required a fresh mandate from the people, and dissolved the Lok Sabha a year before its actual end of term, for fresh general elections. At the same time, AIADMK recommended dissolution of Tamil Nadu State Assembly a year ahead of end of term, to use the sympathy wave of Congress due to Indira's death and M.G.R's illness. Congress(I) and AIADMK formed an alliance and contested both general elections to Lok Sabha and Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1984. The allocation of seats were done what was later dubbed, "The M.G.R formula". Where the regional party would contest 70% of the assembly seats and the national party would be given 70% of the Lok Sabha seats. The result was a landslide victory for INC and its ally AIADMK, winning 37 out of 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state and 195 seats in Tamil Nadu Assembly. M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R) was sworn in as Chief Minister, for the third time. After the death of M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R) in December 1987, The AIADMK split into two factions, one led by Janaki and the other by J. Jayalalithaa. Janaki briefly served as the chief minister and her government was dismissed by prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on 30 January 1988 citing the disruptions in the assembly. After a year of President's rule, Both the AIADMK factions contested with different alliances with separate symbols as the election commission froze the "two leaves" symbol of the AIADMK to them for 1989 assembly election. Congress contested the elections alone without allying with either factions and Rajiv Gandhi campaigned extensively making multiple campaign visits to Tamil Nadu. Due to its split, the AIADMK suffered heavily in the election, with the Janaki and Jayalalithaa factions winning only 2 and 27 seats, respectively. Following the AIADMK's rout in the election, the factions led by Jayalalithaa and Janaki merged under Jayalalithaa's leadership on 7 February 1989, as Janaki decided to quit politics as it was not her forte. On 8 February 1989, the Two Leaves symbol was granted to the united AIADMK led by Jayalalithaa.[8] AIADMK and Congress again allied in mid 1989. This marks the start of the dominance of INC-AIADMK, for the next decade winning 38 seats in 1989 Lok Sabha election and all 39 seats in 1991 Lok Sabha election.[7][9] In the wake of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination during the election campaign in Tamil Nadu, Democratic Progressive Alliance of AIADMK - Congress swept the state in both the Tamil Nadu assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 1991. AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalithaa sworn in as the chief minister for the first time.[10] AIADMK - Congress Alliance routed in 1996 assembly election and Lok Sabha polls.

In 1998 Lok Sabha general election, the AIADMK revived its electoral fortunes when it formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and the alliance won 30 seats out of 39 in Tamil Nadu. In the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government between 1998 and 1999, the AIADMK shared power with the BJP but withdrew its support of 18 Lok Sabha MPs in early 1999, causing the BJP government to fall.

Following this, the AIADMK once again allied with the INC in the 1999 general election, and the alliance won 13 seats out of 39 in Tamil Nadu. In the 2001 assembly election, the AIADMK-led Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance, consisting of the Indian National Congress, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) (TMC(M)), the Left Front, and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), regained power, winning 197 seats to the AIADMK's 132. Jayalalithaa sworn in as the chief minister for the second time.[11] In 2004 Lok Sabha general election, AIADMK led National Democratic Alliance consisting of BJP, won none of the 39 Lok Sabha seats from the state. In 2006 assembly election, in spite of media speculations of a hung assembly, the AIADMK led Democratic People Alliance, contesting with only the support of the MDMK, VCK and few other smaller parties, won 61 seats compared to the DMK's 96. The AIADMK's electoral reversals continued in the 2009 general election. However, the party's performance was better than its debacle in 2004, and the AIADMK-led Third Front consisting of PMK, MDMK and left parties managed to win 12 seats, with the AIADMK winning 9 seats.

Jayalalithaa with the leaders of CPI(M) Party

In the 2011 assembly election, AIADMK led alliance with parties like the left and actor-turned-politician Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), swept the polls, winning 203 seats, with the AIADMK winning 150. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time. In the union territory of Puducherry, the AIADMK allied with N. Rangasamy's All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and won the 2011 assembly election, which was held in parallel with the Tamil Nadu assembly election. Rangasamy, on the other hand, formed the government without consulting the AIADMK and refused to share power with the pre-election alliance partner. So Jayalalithaa accused him of betraying the coalition.

The AIADMK's good electoral performance continued in the 2014 general election as well. It opted not to join any alliance and contested all seats in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry on its own. The party won an unprecedented 37 out of the 40 parliamentary constituencies it contested and emerged as the third largest party in the 16th Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament. It was a massive victory that no other regional political party had ever achieved in the history of general elections. In the 2016 assembly election, running without allies, she swept the polls, winning 135 out of 234 seats. It was the most audacious decision made by her for the spectacular victory that no other political leader had ever made in the history of Tamil Nadu. On 23 May 2016, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the sixth time. After Jayalalithaa's death on 5 December 2016, AIADMK had gone through a sea changes, from accepting Sasikala as acting general secretary, Party Split, Merger of OPS and EPS factions, Sasikala's expulsion to Introduction of dual Leadership in the party.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, AIADMK led by then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam as Coordinators, in alliance with the BJP again, won only one of the 39 Lok Sabha seats from the state and lost to the DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance. Later, in the 2021 assembly election, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, consisting of the PMK, BJP, and a few other smaller parties, won 75 seats compared to the 159 seats won by the DMK alliance and was pushed out of power by the DMK after a decade. The AIADMK emerged as the main party of the opposition in the assembly by winning 66 seats. During the period of 2022-23, The AIADMK again undergone many changes like abolition of dual leadership[12] and the election of Edappadi K. Palaniswami as its General Secretary.[13][14] Following the tensions with the BJP, The AIADMK left the National Democratic Alliance, by snapping ties with the BJP and It was officially announced on 25 September 2023. AIADMK to form and lead the new alliance headed by the General secretary Palaniswami to face the Next Indian general election and TN Assembly election in the state.[15][16][17]

Indian general elections

Tamil Nadu

Lok Sabha Elections in Tamil Nadu
Duration Election year Allied parties Seats won
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1977 1977 AIADMK, INC, CPI
34 / 39
AIADMK - Janata Party Alliance
1979–1980 1980 AIADMK, JNP, CPI, CPI(M)
2 / 39
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1984–1988 1984 AIADMK, INC, GKNC
37 / 39
1989 1989 AIADMK, INC
38 / 39
Democratic Progressive Alliance
1991–1996 1991 AIADMK, INC
39 / 39
1996
0 / 39
National Democratic Alliance
1998–1999 1998 AIADMK, BJP, PMK, MDMK, JP, TRC
30 / 39
Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance
1999–2001 1999 AIADMK, INC, CPI, CPI(M), INL
13 / 39
National Democratic Alliance
2004 2004 AIADMK, BJP
0 / 39
Third Front
2007–2014 2009 AIADMK, PMK, CPI, CPI(M), MDMK
12 / 39
AIADMK
2014–2019 2014 AIADMK
37 / 39
National Democratic Alliance
2019–2023 2019 AIADMK, BJP, PMK, DMDK, TMC, PT
1 / 39
AIADMK led Alliance
2023-Present 2024 AIADMK TBD

Puducherry

Lok Sabha Elections in Puducherry
Duration Election year Allied parties Contested by Result
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1977 1977 AIADMK, INC, CPI AIADMK Won
AIADMK - Janata Party Alliance
1979–1980 1980 AIADMK, JNP, CPI, CPI(M) JNP Lost
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1984–1988 1984 AIADMK, INC INC Won
1989 1989 AIADMK, INC INC Won
Democratic Progressive Alliance
1991–1996 1991 AIADMK, INC INC Won
1996 INC Won
National Democratic Alliance
1998–1999 1998 AIADMK, BJP, PMK, MDMK, JP AIADMK Lost
Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance
1999–2001 1999 AIADMK, INC, CPI, CPI(M), INL INC Won
National Democratic Alliance
2004 2004 AIADMK, BJP BJP Lost
Third Front
2007–2014 2009 AIADMK, PMK, CPI, CPI(M), MDMK PMK Lost
AIADMK
2014–2019 2014 AIADMK AIADMK Lost
National Democratic Alliance
2019–2023 2019 AIADMK, AINRC, BJP, PMK, DMDK, PT AINRC Lost
AIADMK led Alliance
2023-Present 2024 AIADMK TBD

State legislative assembly elections

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections
Duration Election year Allied parties Seats won
AIADMK led Alliance
1977 1977 AIADMK, CPI(M), AIFB, IUML
144 / 234
1979–1980 1980 AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M), AIFB, GKNC
162 / 234
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1984–1988 1984 AIADMK, INC, GKNC
195 / 234
AIADMK Factional Alliances
1988–1989 1989 AIADMK (Jayalalithaa), CPI
30 / 234
AIADMK (Janaki), TMM
2 / 234
Democratic Progressive Alliance
1991–1996 1991 AIADMK, INC, IC(S)
225 / 234
1996 AIADMK, INC, IUML
4 / 234
Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance
1999–2001 2001 AIADMK, TMC, INC, PMK, CPI, CPI(M), AIFB, IUML, INL, TMMK
196 / 234
Democratic People Alliance
2006 2006 AIADMK, MDMK, VCK, INL, INTUC, MMK, JDS, TMML
69 / 234
AIADMK led Alliance
2008–2014 2011 AIADMK, DMDK, CPI, CPI(M), MMK, PT, AIFB, AISMK, RPI, AIMMK, TNKIP
203 / 234
AIADMK+
2014–2019 2016 AIADMK, AISMK, RPI,TNKIP, MP, MJK, TMML
136 / 234
National Democratic Alliance
2019–2023 2021 AIADMK, PMK, BJP, TMC, PTMK, TMMK, MMK, AIMMK, PBK, PDK
75 / 234
AIADMK led Alliance
2023-Present 2026 AIADMK, PTMK, TMMK, PBK TBA

Puducherry

Puducherry Legislative Assembly Elections
Duration Election year Allied parties Seats won
AIADMK led Alliance
1974 1974 AIADMK, CPI
14 / 30
1977 1977 AIADMK
14 / 30
1979–1980 1980 AIADMK, CPI
0 / 30
AIADMK - Congress Alliance
1984–1988 1985 AIADMK, INC
21 / 30
1989–1996 1990
14 / 30
1991
21 / 30
1996
14 / 30
AIADMK - PMK Alliance
2001 2001 AIADMK, PMK
3 / 30
Democratic People Alliance
2006 2006 AIADMK, PMC, MDMK, VCK
7 / 30
AIADMK - NR Congress Alliance
2011 2011 AIADMK, AINRC, CPI, CPI(M), DMDK
20 / 30
AIADMK+
2014–2019 2016 AIADMK
4 / 30
National Democratic Alliance
2019–2023 2021 AIADMK, AINRC, BJP
16 / 30
AIADMK+
2023-Present 2026 AIADMK TBA

Withdrawals

Political Party State Date Reason for Withdrawal
INC National Party 2001 For some issues
VCK Tamil nadu 2006 allied with DMK
MDMK Tamil nadu 2011 Seat Share problem in 2011 Tamil nadu Assembly election
CPI Kerala, Manipur, Tamil nadu 2014 Seat Share problem in 2014 lok sabha election
CPI(M) National Party 2014 Seat Share problem in 2014 Lok Sabha election
MMK Tamil nadu 2014 allied with DMK
AISMK Tamil nadu 2021 Allied with Makkal Needhi Maiyam
DMDK Tamil nadu 2021 Seat Share problem in 2021 Tamil nadu Assembly election
PMK Tamil Nadu 2022 left the alliance but remains in NDA alliance
BJP National Party 2023 For some issues

List of members

# Political party Flag Election symbol Leader Seats Base
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Puducherry Legislative Assembly
1 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(AIADMK)
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
0 / 543
4 / 245
62 / 234
0 / 30
 Puducherry and Tamil Nadu
2 Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi
(PTMK)
N. R. Dhanapalan
0 / 543
0 / 245
0 / 234
0 / 30
 Tamil Nadu
3 Puratchi Bharatham Katchi
(PBK)
M. Jagan Moorthy
0 / 543
0 / 245
0 / 234
0 / 30
 Tamil Nadu
4 Social Democratic Party of India
(SDPI)
V. M. S. Mohamed Mubarak
0 / 543
0 / 245
0 / 234
0 / 30
 Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
TOTAL
0 / 543
4 / 245
62 / 234
0 / 30
 India

Legislative leaders

List of union cabinet ministers

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portfolio Term in office Constituency
(House)		 Prime Minister
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Sathiavani Muthu
(1923–1999)		 Minister of Social Welfare 19 August 1979 23 December 1979 126 days Tamil Nadu
(Rajya Sabha)		 Charan Singh
2 Aravinda Bala Pajanor
(1935–2013)		 Minister of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers Puducherry
(Lok Sabha)
3 Sedapatti R. Muthiah
(1945–2022)		 Minister of Surface Transport 19 March 1998 8 April 1998 20 days Periyakulam
(Lok Sabha)		 Atal Bihari Vajpayee
4 M. Thambidurai
(1947–)		 Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs 19 March 1998 8 April 1999 1 year, 20 days Karur
(Lok Sabha)
Minister of Surface Transport 8 April 1998 1 year
5 Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthy
(1940–2002)		 Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas 19 March 1998 13 October 1999 1 year, 208 days Salem
(Lok Sabha)

List of union ministers of state (independent charge)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portfolio Term in office Constituency
(House)		 Prime Minister
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Dalit Ezhilmalai
(1945–2020)		 Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 20 March 1998 14 August 1999 1 year, 147 days Chidambaram
(Lok Sabha)		 Atal Bihari Vajpayee

List of chief ministers

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term in office Assembly
(Election)		 Constituency Ministry
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 M. G. Ramachandran
(1917–1987)		 30 June 1977 17 February 1980 10 years, 65 days 6th
(1977)		 Aruppukkottai Ramachandran I
9 June 1980 9 February 1985 7th
(1980)		 Madurai West Ramachandran II
10 February 1985 24 December 1987 8th
(1984)		 Andipatti Ramachandran III
Acting V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
(1920–2000)		 24 December 1987 7 January 1988 14 days Athoor Nedunchezhiyan II
2 V. N. Janaki Ramachandran
(1923–1996)		 7 January 1988 30 January 1988 23 days did not contest Janaki
3 J. Jayalalithaa
(1948–2016)		 24 June 1991 12 May 1996 14 years, 124 days 10th
(1991)		 Bargur Jayalalithaa I
14 May 2001 21 September 2001 12th
(2001)		 did not contest Jayalalithaa II
2 March 2002 12 May 2006 Andipatti Jayalalithaa III
16 May 2011 27 September 2014 14th
(2011)		 Srirangam Jayalalithaa IV
23 May 2015 22 May 2016 Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Jayalalithaa V
23 May 2016 5 December 2016 15th
(2016)		 Jayalalithaa VI
4 O. Panneerselvam
(1951–)		 21 September 2001 2 March 2002 1 year, 105 days 12th
(2001)		 Periyakulam Panneerselvam I
28 September 2014 23 May 2015 14th
(2011)		 Bodinayakanur Panneerselvam II
6 December 2016 15 February 2017 15th
(2016)		 Panneerselvam III
5 Edappadi K. Palaniswami
(1954–)		 16 February 2017 6 May 2021 4 years, 79 days Edappadi Palaniswami

Chief Minister of Puducherry

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term in office Assembly
(Election)		 Constituency Ministry
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 S. Ramassamy
(1939–2017)		 6 March 1974 28 March 1974 1 year, 155 days 4th
(1974)		 Karaikal South Ramassamy I
2 July 1977 12 November 1978 5th
(1977)		 Ramassamy II

List of deputy chief ministers

Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term in office Assembly
(Election)		 Constituency Chief Minister
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 O. Panneerselvam
(1951–)		 21 August 2017 6 May 2021 3 years, 258 days 15th
(2016)		 Bodinayakanur Edappadi K. Palaniswami

List of deputy speakers of the Lok Sabha

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term in office Lok Sabha
(Election)		 Constituency Speaker
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 M. Thambidurai
(1947–)		 22 January 1985 27 November 1989 9 years, 229 days 8th
(1984)		 Dharmapuri Bal Ram Jakhar
13 August 2014 25 May 2019 16th
(2014)		 Karur Sumitra Mahajan

List of union ministers of state

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Portfolio Term in office Constituency
(House)		 Cabinet Minister Prime Minister
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 R. K. Kumar
(1942–1999)		 Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs 19 March 1998 22 May 1998 64 days Tamil Nadu
(Rajya Sabha)		 Madan Lal Khurana Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Minister of State for Finance 20 March 1998 63 days Yashwant Sinha
2 Kadambur M. R. Janarthanan
(1929–2020)		 Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions 20 March 1998 8 April 1999 1 year, 19 days Tirunelveli
(Lok Sabha)		 Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Minister of State for Finance 22 May 1998 321 days Yashwant Sinha

See also

References

  1. ↑ Soper, J. Christopher; Fetzer, Joel S. (2018). Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective. Cambridge University Press. pp. 200–210. ISBN 978-1-107-18943-0.
  2. ↑ Price, P. (1996). Revolution and Rank in Tamil Nationalism. The Journal of Asian Studies, 55(2), 359-383. doi:10.2307/2943363
  3. ↑ Pamela Price (1999) Relating to leadership in the Tamil nationalist movement: C.N. Annadurai in person‐centred propaganda, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 22:2, 149-174, doi:10.1080/00856409908723369
  4. ↑ "All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazgham (AIADMK)". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  5. ↑ "Volume I, 1977 Indian general election, 6th Lok Sabha" (PDF). eci.nic.in. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  6. ↑ "From the archives: Why is 1980 Tamil Nadu Assembly election worthy of note?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  7. 1 2 G. Palanithurai (June 1991). Role Perception of the Legislators: A Case Study of Tamil Nadu. Stosius Inc/Advent Books Division. pp. 26–27. ISBN 81-220-0227-7.
  8. ↑ "A throwback to another battle for AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' symbol". the hindu. 23 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ↑ K. Mohandas (1992). MGR, the man and the myth. Panther Publishers. pp. 105–106. ISBN 978-81-85457-09-3.
  10. ↑ Election Commission of India. "1991 Election Statistical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu from 1920". Archived from the original on 23 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Ramakrishnan, T. (2022-07-11). "Palaniswami elected AIADMK interim general secretary; Panneerselvam expelled". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  13. ↑ "AIADMK Amended Constitution dated 20.04.2023.pdf". Election Commission of India. 2023-04-20.
  14. ↑ "Election Commission of India recognises Edappadi K. Palaniswami as AIADMK general secretary". The Hindu. 2023-04-20.
  15. ↑ "AIADMK severs ties with BJP-led NDA alliance, to lead separate front for 2024 Lok Sabha polls". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  16. ↑ PTI. "AIADMK severs ties with BJP-led NDA; to form front to fight 2024 LS polls". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  17. ↑ "AIADMK snaps ties with BJP-led NDA alliance ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls". The Indian Express. 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
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