The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is a major regional political party in Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry, India. Founded on October 17, 1972, by the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.) in Madurai, it broke away from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after M.G.R. was expelled for demanding an account as party treasurer. The party follows the principles of socialism and secularism rooted in Annaism, based on the ideology of C. N. Annadurai, and has become the most successful political outfit in Tamil Nadu's history, winning a seven-time majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Under M.G.R.'s charismatic leadership, the party quickly grew in popularity, winning its first major electoral victory in 1977 when M.G.R. became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. After M.G.R.'s death in 1987, leadership battles culminated in J. Jayalalithaa becoming the party chief in 1989, who is revered by supporters as the "Mother of the Party." She led the AIADMK until her death in 2016, under whom the party continued to be a dominant political force in Tamil Nadu. Since 2022, former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has served as the general secretary of the party.
The party headquarters, named Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. Maaligai, is located in Chennai and was donated by M.G.R.'s wife V. N. Janaki Ramachandran in 1986. The AIADMK adheres strongly to Dravidian identity politics and has formed alliances with various national parties over the years, including the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, depending on political contexts.
Overall, AIADMK represents a blend of Dravidian regionalism, populist welfare programs, and charismatic leadership, maintaining a significant presence in Tamil Nadu's political landscape for over five decades.