A simmering power struggle between Nilgiris MP and DMK Deputy General Secretary A. Raja and Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar has thrown the DMK’s Perambalur and Ariyalur units into disarray. These two backward districts, with just four assembly constituencies combined, have become the epicenter of a deepening internal rift.
The intense competition within the party stems from a long-standing rivalry over control and influence in these constituencies. Minister Sivasankar hails from a political legacy his father, Sivasubramanian, was a towering figure in the DMK’s Perambalur region. Notably, it was Sivasubramanian who mentored A. Raja and helped launch his political career by fielding him in the 1996 elections.
Despite Sivashankar being the biological heir, A. Raja gradually carved out his own political space and, after Perambalur was declared a general constituency, shifted to the Nilgiris. However, Raja continued to wield considerable power over appointments and decisions in Perambalur and Ariyalur, ensuring that key posts were filled by his loyalists.
Things have reportedly shifted in recent years. Sources suggest that A. Raja is now aggressively reasserting his influence in his native district, causing friction with Sivasankar. Party insiders believe that Raja covertly worked against Sivasankar during the 2016 assembly elections in Ariyalur, contributing to his defeat. Although the two leaders have maintained public civility since then, political observers say the rivalry has only intensified.
Sivasankar’s resurgence in 2021 winning from Kunnam and gaining favor with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin marked a turning point. Initially entrusted with the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, he later took over the Transport Department amid the Raja Kannappan controversy, and more recently, assumed control of the Electricity Department. His rising stature is said to have unsettled Raja, who now reportedly sees Sivasankar as a direct political threat.
Insiders claim that Raja has even instructed party functionaries not to feature Sivasankar’s image in DMK events and banners. With Sivasankar’s growing clout, many local DMK office-bearers have started aligning themselves with his camp, leaving Raja increasingly isolated in his own political backyard.
This ongoing turf war has created confusion and discontent among grassroots workers and mid-level party leaders, who are unsure of whom to approach for support or endorsements. Raja, who once had an unchallenged grip on the region, now finds himself sidelined as party cadres defer to Sivasankar.
Despite their apparent camaraderie in public appearances, it is widely believed that both leaders are locked in a silent, high-stakes battle for dominance. The clash, rooted in ego and legacy, is now threatening party cohesion in the Perambalur-Ariyalur belt.
Whether this internal conflict will simmer down or explode further remains uncertain but it is already proving to be a headache for the DMK’s top leadership.
சொந்த மண்ணில் சரியும் செல்வாக்கு.! ஆத்திரப்படும் ஆ.ராசாவின் உள்குத்து? அமைச்சர் புள்ளியை அசைக்க பிளான்.!#Perambalur #Ariyalur #DMK #ARaja #SSSivasankar #AnnaArivalayam #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/hFtYiz20ke
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) July 11, 2025
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