AIADMK-led alliance will win 210 seats, says Palaniswami

Launching his election campaign from Mylai Mangollai in Chennai on Wednesday, AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the AIADMK-led NDA would win 210 seats and form the government with an absolute majority.

Campaigning in Mylapore, a constituency allotted to the BJP, he appeared alongside BJP leader and former Governor of Telangana, Tamilisai Soundararajan, despite the fact that the BJP is yet to officially announce her candidature. In 2001, the BJP had won the constituency when the DMK was in an alliance with the BJP-led NDA.

Earlier, Mr. Palaniswami, accompanied by party cadre, visited the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore and offered special prayers at the temple.

Comparing his alliance with the DMK-led front, Mr. Palaniswami said the condition of the DMK was pitiable.

“Three days ago, we invited our alliance partners to our party office and announced the seat allocations. The very next day, we released our election manifesto. Since our manifesto benefits the people, it is being widely appreciated. Similarly, we held discussions with leaders of the alliance parties and finalised the seat-sharing arrangement. Not only that, the AIADMK has also released its first list of candidates. We are the first party to make such an announcement. We have released a list of 23 candidates,” he said. He added that the remaining candidates would be announced in a couple of days.

“The alliance parties in the DMK struggled for 20 days just to form an alliance. Every party is struggling in the alliance, and they are forced to fight even to secure constituencies. The DMK alliance parties are treated like subordinates, whereas the AIADMK alliance leaders function independently,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

Claiming that the DMK government had done nothing for the people in the past five years, he said, “The DMK is a family-run party driven by dynastic politics, and they have merely rebranded the AIADMK’s schemes. The storm-water drain project was initiated during the AIADMK’s tenure, with 2,400 km having been covered. Phases 1 and 2 were completed under AIADMK rule, while phases 3 and 4 remain incomplete under the DMK government. Two years ago, [Chief Minister] Stalin and city officials claimed that Chennai would not face water stagnation. Yet, flooding persists.”

“Ahead of the last Assembly polls, the DMK made 525 promises but fulfilled not even a quarter of them. Yet, they falsely claim that 98% of the promises have been fulfilled. Did they waive education loans? Did they abolish NEET? They misled people and students with false assurances. Taxes have increased drastically — property tax by 100%, commercial tax by 150%, and electricity tariff by 52%. The cost of living has skyrocketed, and the government has failed to control prices. Under the AIADMK regime, a ₹100-crore price stabilisation fund ensured that essential commodities remained affordable. But the DMK has shown no concern on this front,” he said.

Alleging that drug abuse was rampant, leading to crime, and that law and order had deteriorated, he said murders, robberies, and assaults were occurring frequently.

“Women’s safety has been severely compromised, with thousands of POCSO cases having been registered. Such a government must be removed. The AIADMK-led alliance must win decisively to restore law and order,” Mr. Palaniswami said.