The AIADMK office at Ashok Nagar in Pudukkottai was locked, allegedly by the faction led by former Minister C. Vijayabaskar, to prevent the entry of the newly appointed district secretary and his supporters on Thursday (May 14, 2026). The police brought the office under tight security.

The stand-off occurred after Mr. Vijayabaskar, who has been elected to the Assembly from Viralimalai for the fourth consecutive time, was removed from the party posts of Pudukkottai North District secretary and organising secretary by party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday for supporting the confidence motion moved by the TVK government in the Assembly.

V. Palanivel, who was appointed the Pudukottai North District secretary, came to the office with his supporters after garlanding the statues of late Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai and M.G. Ramachandran. But they could not enter the office as it was locked.

The police anticipated trouble and placed barricades.

Tension prevailed for some time before both groups dispersed after talks with the police. Mr. Palanivel later submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Police, seeking protection for performing his routine work at the party office, sources said.