Former MLA pickets former Minister’s house in Namakkal

Former AIADMK MLA of Namakkal, K.P.P. Baskar, who did not get a party ticket this time, picketed former Minister P. Thangamani’s house here on Saturday (March 28, 2026).

Mr. Baskar served as an MLA twice (2011 and 2016) and lost in the Namakkal Assembly constituency in 2021. Expecting a ticket this time, Mr. Baskar began his campaign last week. Meanwhile, the second phase of the AIADMK’s candidate list was announced on Friday evening, in which, Sridevi P.S. Mohan was announced as the candidate for Namakkal Assembly constituency. 

Irked by this, supporters of Mr. Baskar gathered at his house on Friday night (March 27, 2026) and raised slogans against the AIADMK Namakkal district secretary P. Thangamani. They announced that 39 ward secretaries in the Corporation and four union secretaries will submit their resignation to the party’s high command if Mr. Baskar is not announced as a candidate.

On Saturday, AIADMK functionaries, led by Mr. Baskar, went to Mr. Thangamani’s house at Pallipalayam, but he was not home as he had not returned from Chennai.

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Baskar alleged that Mr. Thangamani was acting like an autocrat. He added that while the protests announced by the party’s high command would happen at the district headquarters in every other district, in Namakkal, the protests would be held elsewhere. Mr. Baskar also stated that for the past four years, Mr. Thangamani did not invite Mr. Baskar or his supporters to any party events.

“I am senior to Mr. Thangamani in politics. In every district, the party had divided districts except Namakkal and Mr. Thangamani is still district secretary for the whole district,” he stated. He added that himself and his supporters are not against the party’s high command. “The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had my name in the candidates list. But Mr. Thangamani allegedly forced him and removed my name from the list,” Mr. Baskar said.

Later, Mr. Baskar and his supporters dispersed from Mr. Thangmani’s residence and gathered at a marriage hall and held discussions about their next move. 

When contacted, Mr. Thangamani was not available for comments.