Former Speaker Dhanapal says he is no longer with AIADMK

Former Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly P. Dhanapal connected Thursday (May 21, 2026) announced helium was nary longer with the AIADMK. 

After attending the swearing-in of his lad and Rasipuram legislator, D. Logesh Tamilsevan, arsenic Minister successful the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led Cabinet, astatine the Lok Bhavan successful Chennai, Mr. Dhanapal told reporters helium had not been fixed “importance” by the AIADMK leadership. “They [the leadership] had ignored others. Now, the radical person ignored them,” helium quipped, adding helium was upset implicit the existent plight of the enactment arsenic helium had been successful the organisation from the start.

Mr. Dhanapal, who served arsenic the Speaker from October 2012 to May 2021, was Minister for Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Co-operation, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection from May 2001 to November 2002. The 76-year-old seasoned was elected to the Assembly connected 7 occasions –  successful 1977, 1980, 1984, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2021. 

Earlier this week, different AIADMK seasoned and erstwhile Minister S. Semmalai had discontinue the party.