The political chaos in the ADMK is getting deepened even as the party is taking skewed turns ahead of the Erode East bypoll as a faction headed by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) has backtracked from its plan of nominating its candidate for the bypoll, his rival faction O Panneerselvam (OPS) has gone with its plan as its candidate has filed his nomination papers on Friday - February 3. 

These events of furore have happened after both EPS and OPS had a meeting with Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai concerning the national party's stand in the bypoll. Annamalai was accompanied by BJP Tamil Nadu incharge CT Ravi and it has been reported that during their meeting, the BJP leaders have conveyed the tussling ADMK leaders about the view of the BJP's central leadership about the bypoll, which has drawn national attention. 

The Erode East bypoll will be held on February 27 and the process of filing the nomination papers have already begun. While both ADMK leaders announced candidates to contest against each other, which would mark their first electoral battle since their divide, they were closely watching the developments in the BJP as they sought the support from the saffron party and the developments from their legal fight over securing the party and its Two leaves symbol.

Days after the ADMK leaders from both the factions met Annamalai, the latter had for first time called on EPS and OPS at their respective residences. Though the BJP remained tight-lipped after the meeting, the reports say that the BJP is trying to resolve the crisis in ADMK and to merge the factions ahead of the bypolls to defeat DMK. While the BJP and OPS exhibit the same equation of reuniting the ADMK, EPS stands completely opposite and now, he has decided to defer the filing of nomination of the candidate of his faction, a day after a setback from the Election Commission. 

On Thursday, the Election Commission of India has made its submission to the Supreme Court, denying to acknowledge EPS as ADMK's interim general secretary and further said that the ADMK's bylaws dated on 11.07.2022 were not taken on record by the Election Commission as the same is under challenge, including the manner and the process in which the amendments were passed in the said meeting. EPS has announced former ADMK MLA Thennarasu as his candidate for the Erode East bypoll while OPS announced Senthil Murugan as his candidate. 

The process of filing the nominations will come to an end on February 7 and it was expected that both the candidates named by the rivaling ADMK leaders would file their nomination papers on Friday. However, after a setback from the Election Commission, EPS backtracked from his plan. However, OPS has gone ahead with his plan as his candidate Senthil Murugan has filed his nomination papers on Friday. It has been reported that EPS's candidate Thennarasu would file his nomination on February 7. 

OPS has already said that if the BJP wants to contest in the Erode East bypoll, he will take back his candidate and will support BJP.  At this high time, the BJP will more likely announce its stand about the bypoll on Friday. On the other hand, the ruling DMK is a step forward than the opposition when it comes to the bypoll race. DMK's ally Congress has fielded former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan as its candidate. Elangovan is the father of deceased Congress MLA Thirumahan Everaa, whose demise earlier last month had necessitated the bypoll.