It's going to be nearly six years since J Jayalalithaa passed away but ADMK is still struggling to find the perfect face as her successor, thanks to the current officeholders for fueling the fire of the unprecedented leadership crisis despite encountering major electoral debacles. The interminable crisis has taken a new turn now over the chorus within the party that has emerged for the single leadership, which has triggered a war between the top two leaders and their associates. 

In what has become never-witnessed political chaos in the history of Tamil Nadu politics, the top two leaders - Chief Coordinator Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator Edappadi Palaniswami have been locking horns for several years over commanding the party. In the midst of several challenges and ordeals, neither of them was ready to vote for the single leadership and to lose control. 

While expelled ADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala is finding ways to recoup her control in the party, both Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam are now racing to win the post of General Secretary, which was removed from the party's lawbook by the duo after expelling Sasikala. The voice for the single leadership in the party wasn't new but this time, the chorus for the single leader is accepted and backed by the senior leaders, who once rejected such claims.

Notably, senior party leader and former minister D Jayakumar has said that a majority of district secretaries and office-bearers had backed the need for unitary leadership. He made this remark after the party meeting and said, "The party would take a decision in the due course on who should lead the party." ADMK is all set to convene the general body meeting on June 23 and the party has been displaying the events that suggest the prevailing furores over ending the war ahead of the top meeting.

As Edappadi Palaniswami is aiming to become the General Secretary, the supporters of Panneerselvam have been waging protests across the state by alleging that their leader has been sidelined again by Edappadi Palaniswami. They have been hoarding banners and supporters in support of Panneerselvam and amid the protests, several senior leaders have been meeting both the leaders separately and the grassroots ADMK cadres await to see how the war progresses, with no sight of consensus.

The party has been witnessing an aggressive political drama and it has now been reported that Edappadi Palaniswami and his camp have been working to sideline Panneerselvam. It was Palaniswami's camp that pushed for single leadership by electing him as the General Secretary. According to a news agency, Palaniswami's camp has been trying to convince Panneerselvam to agree to a resolution at the General Council Meeting. 

Palaniswami has assured that he will provide the post of ADMK's Presidium Chairman to Panneerselvam, which is the second powerful post in the party, while the former will decorate the first one. Quoting the sources, the reports say that Palaniswami has decided to offer the posts of Presidium Chairman and Head of the Steering Committee to Panneerselvam. Most of the senior leaders are backing Palaniswami while Panneerselvam's supporters are demanding that either Panneerselvam should be made the General Secretary or let the post remain vacant.

On the other hand, while several leaders who belong to Panneerselvam's community have extended their support to Edappadi Palaniswami, the leaders in the southern districts are backing Panneerselvam and sources say that Edappadi Palaniswami holds the edge to win the war and become the General Secretary in the wake of strong support.

However, the Panneerselvam camp has been sporting a face that they won't accept Palaniswami's elevation and they are also planning to take legal action against Palaniswami and hold the General meeting. The meeting is a week away and the current events show that the consensus between the leaders is nowhere near the reach. On the other hand, the intra-party furore has posted external trouble to the ADMK as due to the faltering party base as the opposition party, several parties have been claiming them to be the true opposition and the latest in line is Vijayakanth's DMDK.