The power struggle between Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam has cost the AIADMK dearly. The AIADMK, which is part of the NDA after two decades, could not be represented in the Union Cabinet due to differences between the two factions.
As a result, the state of Tamil Nadu has also gone unrepresented for the first time in several decades. However, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar, who was sworn in as Cabinet ministers hail from Tamil Nadu.
While Panneerselvam wanted his son O P Ravindranath Kumar, to represent the party in the Union Cabinet, the faction led by Palaniswami wanted senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam to get the Union Minister's post.
Since no resolution could be arrived at between the two factions, the AIADMK could not be represented in the Union Cabinet. The AIADMK, according to sources, was offered one cabinet berth as it was done to other allies.
The rivalry between OPS and EPS is intense, with both maintaining separate factions. Sources said that OPS insisted that his son should get the ministry, as he won despite all odds, but the EPS faction wanted it to go to a senior leader.
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