Former AIADMK minister Vaigaichelvan has triggered a fresh round of speculation within party circles after he met with BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, handing them copies of his newly written book and holding cordial discussions.
While both sides claim these were “courtesy calls” to share his book, seasoned political observers say in politics, “courtesy meetings” are never just that.
📌 Inside AIADMK: Why It’s a Talking Point
- Vaigaichelvan was once a trusted aide of Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), known for drafting key speeches.
- He became a minister after winning from Aruppukottai in 2011 but lost political momentum after being removed from the cabinet due to controversies.
- He failed to win back the seat in both 2016 and 2021, losing support among locals over unpopular schemes like the much-mocked green token.
- Facing back-to-back defeats, he reportedly wanted to switch constituencies but that didn’t materialize.
- He then eyed a Rajya Sabha seat, but EPS didn’t oblige, dashing his Delhi dream.
📌 Why Meet Opposition Leaders?
Sources inside AIADMK say:
With no clear future in his constituency and no Rajya Sabha seat, Vaigaichelvan is exploring options outside AIADMK, or at least sending a signal that he has other doors open
Local AIADMK functionaries in Aruppukottai told us:
“When Amma (Jayalalithaa) was alive, no one could dare meet opposition leaders like this — they would have been expelled immediately. Now, EPS lets this slide. It’s disappointing.”
📌 Bottom Line
- His meetings with both a BJP ally and a vocal BJP critic (VCK) hint at political recalculations.
- Some believe he is simply trying to stay relevant and pressure EPS by showing he has “backup plans”.
- Others see it as a sign of growing discontent among sidelined AIADMK seniors.
Interestingly, AIADMK’s two recent Rajya Sabha seats have now left two ex-ministers — Jayakumar and Vaigaichelvan — visibly restless, proving once again how Delhi dreams can shake up party loyalties in Tamil Nadu.
