In a joint representation to Palaniswami, the two leaders urged him to restore more than 400 functionaries who were removed from party posts after the 2026 Assembly election. They also called for greater accommodation of dissent and cited the “forget and forgive” approach adopted by former leaders MGR and Jayalalithaa. Both leaders have declined the newly created posts of deputy general secretary and continued to sign their statements as MLAs. The leaders accused Palaniswami of missing alliance opportunities in the 2021, 2024 and 2026 elections. They alleged that his unilateral decisions prevented tie-ups with several parties, including Dhinakaran’s camp, the DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam, PMK and the BJP.