Palaniswami to restart AIADMK rally from Sengottaiyan’ stronghold in Erode
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is set to resume his statewide public outreach programme starting November 30, marking a strategic return to politics after the temporary halt caused by the tragic stampede during actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally in Karur.
Palaniswami will recommence his series of rallies from Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, the home turf of expelled AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan. Sengottaiyan, a senior politician and former state minister, was removed from the party for defying leadership directives and advocating reunification with expelled leaders such as O Panneerselvam, V K Sasikala, and T T V Dhinakaran.The outreach campaign titled “Makkalai Kaapoom, Tamilagathai Meetpom” was launched on July 7 from Coimbatore and had covered 174 assembly constituencies in five phases before the pause.
The sixth phase, starting from Sengottaiyan’s stronghold, aims to send a strong message that Palaniswami remains firmly in control of the party despite internal dissent.Political observers see the choice of Gobichettipalayam as a symbolic effort to consolidate authority in a region long influenced by Sengottaiyan, reaffirming Palaniswami’s leadership ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The party expects a strong turnout of supporters to showcase unity and dismiss any notion of erosion in the cadre base.Alongside the outreach campaign, the AIADMK has announced key General Council and Executive Committee meetings scheduled for December 10 in Chennai, focusing on organizational strengthening and election preparedness..
Palaniswami has already indicated that Sengottaiyan’s expulsion will not weaken the party’s electoral prospects, positioning himself as the unchallenged leader navigating the AIADMK into the upcoming polls.