Prominent film actress and AIADMK Propaganda Wing Deputy Secretary Gautami has tendered her resignation from the party, citing the prevailing political circumstances as the reason behind her decision. She formally submitted her resignation letter to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Gautami’s political career spans nearly two decades. She was a long-standing member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before resigning in October 2023, stating that the party leadership had not extended the level of support she had expected. She subsequently joined the AIADMK on February 14, 2024, in the presence of Palaniswami.
Most recently, Gautami had sought a party ticket to contest from the Rajapalayam constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, the party leadership declined to field her as a candidate — a development widely seen as the immediate trigger for her exit.
A Party Under Pressure
Gautami’s resignation comes at a particularly difficult time for the AIADMK, which is grappling with a significant wave of defections. Several senior leaders, former ministers, and former MLAs — along with hundreds of party workers — have been switching allegiance to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). On Saturday alone, hundreds of members formally joined the TVK.
The departure of Gautami, who served as one of the party’s star campaigners, is being viewed as a significant political setback for the AIADMK and has sparked widespread discussion across Tamil Nadu’s political circles.