CHENNAI: The factional differences in AIADMK appear to be continuing, with senior leaders C Ve Shanmugam, SP Velumani and Thangamani missing from the party’s list of star campaigners submitted to the Election Commission for the October 6 Dharapuram and Madurantakam Assembly bypolls.

The party has submitted the list of leaders who will campaign for its candidates in the two constituencies. The omission of the three senior leaders has attracted attention, particularly amid the differences between the camp of general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders associated with Shanmugam and Velumani.

The differences surfaced after the 2026 Assembly elections over the issue of extending support to the TVK government. Subsequently, Palaniswami removed Shanmugam and Velumani from their district secretary posts. Though they were later given other organisational responsibilities, their earlier district posts were not restored.

Shanmugam and Velumani have been seeking restoration of the posts held by them and their supporters. They have also sought the convening of the AIADMK general council, but their demands have not been accepted so far.

Against this backdrop, the exclusion of their names, along with that of Thangamani, from the star campaigners list has renewed attention on the organisational differences within the party.

The development comes at a time when AIADMK is seeking to consolidate its campaign for the two bypolls, with the absence of the three senior leaders potentially underscoring the continuing divide between the EPS camp and functionaries aligned with Shanmugam and Velumani.