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News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Alliances Will Be Formed Close To Polls': EPS Aims For Oppn Unity To Outdo DMK
Last Updated: As the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections approach, the decisions made by Vijay and other non-Dravidian contestants will play a significant role With over eight months to go for the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has launched its campaign titled 'Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom" (we will protect the people and retrieve Tamil Nadu). In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News 18, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami hinted that doors are open to all parties aiming to defeat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). 'We have eight months to go. Alliances will be formed closer to elections. A few more parties will join the AIADMK-BJP alliance. How can we say whether TVK will join us for sure? Those who want to defeat the DMK should come together and win. If such parties unite, votes won't split, and the possibility of winning is higher," Palaniswami told CNN-News 18. Actor-turned-politician Vijay had earlier ended speculation that his party (Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam) would not join the BJP or the DMK directly or indirectly. However, AIADMK believes that electoral alliances will only be clear closer to the election. In response to his opinion on Vijay's political debut, Palaniswami said, 'India is a democratic country. Anybody can start a party. Anybody who wants to serve the people can start a party." Ever since the AIADMK joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, the DMK has accused Palaniswami of putting his party in a subservient position to the BJP. Palaniswami hit back at chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin, maintaining that both the AIADMK and the BJP aim to defeat the 'anti-people government" and hence decided to form the alliance. Throughout his campaigns, Palaniswami projects himself as a farmer, identifying with the large agrarian vote banks across the non-metro areas in the state. 'The DMK chief accuses us of forming an alliance for 'personal gains'. What gains is he referring to? I'm a farmer. What will be my gains? DMK may have a lot of assets, and to protect their assets, they may do so…we are not like that. If that were the case, we would have joined hands with them for 2024," he has said. While canvassing, Palaniswami is raising issues from deteriorating law and order to concerns over women's safety. The ruling alliance remains intact. The Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) continue with the DMK, bonded by their anti-BJP stance cemented over the years. The surprise, it turns out, may come from the opposition camp. Among the possibilities is actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) entering into some kind of support for Palaniswami's alliance. This would prevent a split-vote scenario massively beneficial to the DMK. As a debutante, Vijay may want to test the waters by contesting alone, but there are enough examples of those who have stumbled after the initial enthusiasm in this direction. As the election approaches, the decisions made by Vijay and other non-Dravidian contestants will play a significant role in determining who will win in 2026. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
AIADMK chief hits the ground as NDA tries to steady ship in choppy waters
With his political future at stake, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched his campaign for next year's Assembly polls with a rally from the party's stronghold of Coimbatore. The rally marked the beginning of a multi-phase tour titled 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom (Let's Protect the People, Let's Redeem Tamil Nadu)', across all the 234 Assembly constituencies of the state by Palaniswami. Apart from resilience, the AIADMK is seeking to project unity with his allies, as well as generating momentum against the ruling DMK and actor Vijay's new party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, will travel across the state in a specially designed bus, dining with cadres and staying overnight at their homes along the way. One of his first halts after the launch on Monday was an interaction with farmers and weavers at Thekkampatti, where he reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the Athikadavu-Avinashi irrigation project. 'It is about reactivating our base, especially after the jolt in last year's Lok Sabha elections,' said a senior AIADMK leader from Coimbatore. While the DMK-led front had swept the polls, the AIADMK had finished third in several constituencies in the state's western region, ceding space to even the BJP. Palaniswami's campaign comes around two-and-a-half months after the BJP and AIADMK decided to come together again. However, the alliance has been marked by mutual mistrust and visible lack of coordination. Incidentally, former state BJP chief K Annamalai was absent from Palaniswami's Monday rally, though its leaders like Union Minister L Murugan, Vanathi Srinivasan and Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran were present. Nagendran also issued an appeal to BJP cadre to make the campaign 'a grand success'. Annamalai had been one of the most vocal voices against the AIADMK before the alliance was reached, and was eased out as BJP state chief just ahead of the tie-up. BJP sources said that Annamalai will join EPS's campaign only in his home turf of Karur, in a largely symbolic gesture. The NDA's other partners too are fighting their own problems or not rushing to be on its side. AIADMK rebels T T V Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam were both conspicuous by their absence at the EPS rally. Another NDA ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), is entangled in an internal strife between its founder S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss. Vijayakanth's DMDK, which has been promised a Rajya Sabha berth, is adopting a wait and watch approach. Countering the DMK's criticism for its alliance with the BJP, EPS said at the rally at Mettupalayam: 'Let us not forget that they (DMK) were a part of the NDA in the 1990s. What did they do for the state when they shared power at the Centre? They only looted the country when they could have implemented countless welfare schemes for our people. Now, they are spreading misinformation about our alliance with the BJP.' The DMK and Vijay have already started their campaigns for the 2026Assembly polls. The DMK is on a door-to-door drive – 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' – aimed at enrolling 30% voters at the booth-level, while Chief Minister M K Stalin has launched the 'Udanpirappe Vaa' internal party outreach programme that covered 33 constituencies in 11 days. The TVK is quietly building its grassroots presence with a membership drive, with Vijay likely to embark on a statewide tour in August. 'We will get more votes than the AIADMK in at least two dozen seats and emerge as an unquestionable third front with an at least 15% vote share,' a top TVK source claimed. EPS has indicated that the AIADMK would welcome an alliance with Vijay, appealing to all 'anti-DMK' forces to unite, but three top AIADMK leaders earlier told The Indian Express that it was the AIADMK that did not respond to overtures from Vijay earlier. A former minister from western Tamil Nadu said that this was because 'Vijay demanded that the TVK be treated as an equal with the AIADMK'.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
EPS launches campaign for 2026 polls with BJP, takes jibe at Stalin
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) launched his statewide tour on Monday for the 2026 assembly elections flanked by BJP leaders standing atop the campaign vehicle with him. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, along with BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and Union minister of state L Murugan, during a rally on Monday (aiadmk/x) BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and Union minister of state L Murugan, stood on either side of EPS as he justified the two parties coming together earlier in April after a bitter separation for 19 months. Hailing EPS as the future chief minister, Nagenthran said the BJP-AIADMK combination was a natural alliance. Addressing a huge crowd at the roadshow taken from the Gandhi Statue to the bus station, Palaniswami took a dig at chief minister MK Stalin saying 'some people will get fever after watching this massive roadshow.' EPS kicked off the statewide tour of the campaign titled 'Makkalai Kappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom' (we will save people and retrieve Tamil Nadu) from AIADMK's citadel – the western region of Tamil Nadu – from Coimbatore district. Murugan also hails from the western region and had preceded Annamalai as state BJP chief. EPS pointed to a double standard in Stalin over BJP and questioned him if he remembered that his late father and five time chief minister M Karunandihi had allied with the BJP to contest the 1999 Lok Sabha polls and the 2001 assembly polls. Stalin has been criticising the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP saying that EPS has mortgaged the rights of the state . 'If the BJP allies with you (DMK), it is a good party. If we (AIADMK) form an alliance with the BJP, will it become a communal party?' EPS questioned. 'You can't raise a finger at my four-and-a-half-year government, and that's the reason you try to bring in this communal angle. You have nothing to say against us except claiming the BJP is a communal party,' he said while addressing the crowd from a special coach designed for his campaign.' 'There is no doubt that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will achieve a Himalayan victory in the next elections. We will form the next government by dislodging this anti-people DMK government,' he added. In the first phase of the campaign, EPS will cover 38 assembly constituencies in the western, northern, and central parts of the state. In the coming months, he is expected to cover all 234 assembly constituencies. EPS' campaign criticising the DMK regime over corruption, a deteriorating law and order situation and not fulfilling election promises comes after Stalin launched a door-to-door campaign to reach about 20 million households in the state to talk about the government's welfare programs. The AIADMK-BJP alliance showing up together for the rally is significant for two reasons. One, it comes amid tensions since Union home minister Amit Shah has said that they will form a coalition government led by the AIADMK following the 2026 elections which the latter has not accepted. Secondly, the AIADMK broke off the alliance with the BJP in 2023 blaming its then state chief K Annamalai for insulting Dravidian leaders and he has not campaigned alongside EPS. After J Jayalalithaa's death in 2016 in office, succeeded by EPS, the AIADMK has not won any election. After coming together ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK and BJP fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately. AIADMK registered a 20.4% vote share in one of its worst performances while BJP contesting in more number of seats registered one of its best performances in Tamil Nadu registering a 11.4% vote share. The two parties as well as expelled AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran have not decided to fight the 2026 assembly polls under the banner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to be led by the AIADMK to ensure that the anti-DMK votes do not split and they defeat the ruling government. The DMK took a jibe at EPS by releasing a 39-second satirical video titled 'Eat 5 Star, Do Nothing' also coinciding with World Chocolate Day. The video showed a look alike of EPS eating a five star chocolate bar as he scrolls through television channels critical of the BJP on issues such as the three-language policy, NEET, the delimitation exercise but keeping quiet. At the end of the video, a voiceover says, 'Eat 5 Star, do nothing,' criticising the AIADMK of being silent on these issues that affect Tamil Nadu.
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Our Goal Is...": EPS Launches AIADMK Campaign Logo Ahead Of 2026 Polls
Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday launched his 2026 election campaign with the release of a new logo and slogan from the party headquarters, 'MGR Maligai', in Chennai. He announced that his statewide campaign titled 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' (Let's Protect People, Let's Redeem Tamil Nadu) will begin from Coimbatore on July 7, covering eight districts in the first phase. The newly launched campaign logo featured two leaves with the AIADMK flag, a raised fist symbolising revolution, and the slogans 'Puratchi Tamizharin Ezhuchi Payanam' and 'Tamilagathai Kappom, Makkalai Meetpom', reinforcing the party's mission to protect and uplift the people of Tamil Nadu. While addressing the event, Edappadi Palaniswami said, "Following the footsteps of Perarignar Anna, our leaders MGR and Amma have lived their lives for people. AIADMK is following that and working for the welfare of people." Taking a sharp jibe at Chief Minister MK Stalin, Mr Palaniswami added, "Chief Minister MK Stalin says Opposition leader now only meeting the people. But CM thinks speaking about me, but actually, he is speaking about himself. I always live with the people." Mr Palaniswami made it clear that although this was a campaign tour, it carried a much larger political goal. "Our goal is to remove this evil government," he added, setting a confrontational tone ahead of the 2026 state elections. "To defeat DMK, all like-minded parties should unite. They also should accept our request, which is our opinion," he further said. He later added that Union Minister Amit Shah has already mentioned that AIADMK will head the NDA alliance in the State, and he will be the candidate for the Chief Minister post. Earlier, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan welcomed the reported remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the BJP-AIADMK alliance and the chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 Assembly elections. He said that all was well within the BJP-AIADMK alliance and that Edappadi K Palaniswami would lead the state again.
