Tamil Nadu’s simmering political pot just boiled over with former AIADMK minister Nilofer Kafeel resigning from the party and poised to embrace the ruling DMK under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s watchful eye. The formal joining ceremony is slated for a grand DMK northern leaders’ training session in Tirupattur, expected to attract top brass and thousands of workers.
Kafeel’s exit letter to party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami was polite yet firm, thanking district leaders especially from Tirupattur for past support while bowing out due to personal circumstances that prevent her from continuing her political journey within AIADMK.
A veteran who held the Labour Welfare portfolio and won from Vaniyambadi previously, Kafeel faced turbulence in 2021. Denied a ticket in favor of K.C. Veeramani’s ally Senthilkumar, tensions escalated into her ouster from the party. Reinstated later, she was sidelined, fueling speculation about her next move.
Analysts predict this defection will reshape alliances in Vellore, leveraging Kafeel’s enduring popularity in Tirupattur and Vaniyambadi. For DMK, it’s a strategic coup, with Stalin’s presence amplifying the event’s significance and potentially swaying undecided voters.
As election drums beat louder, such high-stakes switches highlight the high-wire act of coalition-building in Tamil Nadu. AIADMK’s loss could prove DMK’s gain, setting the stage for intensified rivalries in the coming polls.