AIADMK will get absolute majority in 2026 Assembly poll: Palaniswami

Ahead of his State-wide tour, set to begin in Coimbatore on Monday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday reiterated that his party would secure an “absolute majority” and form the next government in the State in 2026. The people of Tamil Nadu wanted a change and were prepared to send home the DMK government led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, which has reportedly not fulfilled a majority of electoral promises it had made to the people, the Leader of the Opposition said.

“Let us recall our achievements. We will certainly win in 2026. The AIADMK will get an absolute majority and form the government,” he said in an open letter to his partymen. The people, according to him, were angry at the corruption rampant in the DMK government. The educated youth were angry at Mr. Stalin for not having created employment, Mr. Palaniswami said.

Electoral promises

“The Stalin government has not fulfilled a majority of the electoral promises it made to the people. So, the people of Tamil Nadu are quite angry,” Mr. Palaniswami contended.

Underlining the lessons he had learnt from late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, Mr. Palaniswami said his only unfulfilled desire was to remove darkness from the lives of the people of Tamil Nadu and make the State shine.

“I am your general secretary. However, I am also the first of the partymen to work along with you,” he said.

Referring to his ‘Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom’ campaign, which he is planning to undertake across Tamil Nadu, Mr. Palaniswami called upon his partymen to join the mission. “After Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (her tenure), the AIADMK has been the ruling party and, later, the principal Opposition party. Thereby, a force that cannot be removed from the political landscape.”

In another statement, Mr. Palaniswami criticised the DMK government’s proposal to install LED screens at various places to showcase its achievements during the past four years.

Referring to recent orders in this regard, the former Chief Minister said people in rural areas suffered without proper road and drainage facilities and electricity supply, among others.

“I urge the DMK government to drop the proposal that would waste the taxpayer’s money,” he added.