EPS to tour all constituencies from January ’25, highlight ‘sad state of affairs’ in T.N.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday said that he would tour all 234 Assembly constituencies in the State from January 2025, and meet the people to expose the DMK government over the “sad state of affairs” in Tamil Nadu.

He further announced that a major electoral alliance led by the AIADMK would be formed for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

Delivering an address at a meeting of the party’s general and executive councils in Chennai, Mr. Palaniswami said that an alliance expected by the cadre would be formed. Acknowledging that he had made such an assurance even during the 2024 general election, Mr. Palaniswami said: “Parliamentary elections are different from Assembly elections…”

“They [some sections of people] are saying that the BJP has more votes now. That is not true,” Mr. Palaniswami said, adding that the BJP alliance secured 18.80% of votes in the 2014 general election, but only 18.28% of votes in the 2024 poll. The BJP contested in eight seats in 2014, and secured 5.56% of votes. However, in 2024, it contested in 20 seats and should have secured 13.15% of votes. Yet, it got only 11.24% of votes, he said, adding that the AIADMK had secured 1% more votes than the national party.

The AIADMK leader further hit out at the DMK government for hosting a car race in Chennai, the public debt, and the lack of major projects, among others. He alleged that the DMK government stood for the rich, and disrespected the poor. Liquor bottles were being overcharged at ₹10 per bottle, amounting to ₹3,600 crore annually.

Mr. Palaniswami also condemned the government for the alleged rampant corruption in several departments, and deterioration of law and order.

He also dismissed the claims of DMK leaders M.K. Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Kanimozhi that their party would win over 200 seats in the 2026 Assembly election as “daydreams”.

The AIADMK would win in more than 200 seats and form the government in 2026, he said, calling upon his partymen to put an end to the DMK’s dynasty politics.