Coimbatore: With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just less than a year away, AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has embarked on a state-wide constituency-wise tour titled “Let’s Protect the People and Save Tamil Nadu!” The campaign, which began today from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district, will cover all 234 constituencies and conclude on July 23 in Pattukkottai, Thanjavur district.
A Direct Outreach to Counter DMK’s Dominance
The tour marks AIADMK’s aggressive push to reconnect with voters after its defeat in the 2021 elections. EPS will hold roadshows and public meetings, addressing key concerns such as rising prices, law and order issues, and stalled development projects from the previous AIADMK regime. The party aims to highlight the DMK government’s unfulfilled promises, including welfare schemes and employment guarantees made in the last election.
This campaign is also seen as a counter to CM MK Stalin’s ongoing district tours, where the DMK has been actively recruiting members and consolidating its base. By meeting farmers, weavers, and marginalized communities, EPS hopes to rebuild trust and position AIADMK as a credible alternative ahead of 2026.
Strengthening Alliances and Party Structure
Significantly, the tour will see participation from BJP leaders, including Union Minister L Murugan and Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran, reinforcing the AIADMK-BJP alliance for the upcoming polls. Meanwhile, EPS has been restructuring the party’s grassroots machinery, replacing some district secretaries and forming booth-level committees to ensure better electoral coordination.
Political analysts suggest that this tour could set the tone for AIADMK’s election strategy, testing its ability to challenge the DMK’s dominance. With Tamil Nadu’s political landscape heating up, EPS’s direct engagement with voters may prove crucial in determining whether the opposition can stage a comeback in 2026.