Palaniswami kicks off statewide tour ahead of 2026 Assembly polls
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), on Monday, July 7, 2025, launched his much-anticipated statewide campaign for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district.
The tour, titled ‘Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom’ (Let’s Protect the People, Let’s Redeem Tamil Nadu), is set to cover all 234 assembly constituencies in phases, with the first phase concluding on July 28.
Flanked by Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran and Union Minister of State L. Murugan, Palaniswami began his campaign after offering prayers at the Vana Bhadrakali Amman temple. This visible presence of BJP leaders at the launch signals the renewed alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP, despite previous strains.
Addressing public rallies and interacting with farmers and weavers, Palaniswami vowed to “send the DMK government led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin packing.” He launched an all-round attack on the ruling DMK, accusing it of failing to fulfill election promises and highlighting what he termed as “failures and unfulfilled promises” of the current government, including issues related to law and order, women’s safety, and the growing drug menace.
The AIADMK leader also reiterated his commitment to expanding the Athikadavu-Avinashi irrigation project to benefit all farmers, reaffirming the party’s stance as “farmers friendly.”
The launch from Coimbatore, a traditional AIADMK stronghold, is significant, especially after the party’s setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Palaniswami’s tour comes amidst vocal criticism from various quarters regarding the AIADMK’s role as an effective opposition and close on the heels of the ruling DMK’s own door-to-door campaign to highlight its welfare programs.