DMDK to Finalize Strategy for 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections on April 30

Chennai, April 8 (NationPress) The DMDK is set to finalize its strategy for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections during its forthcoming general council meeting on April 30.

The party has confirmed that both the general and executive council meetings will be held in Palacode, Tamil Nadu. Established by the late Tamil film star and political figure Vijayakant, the DMDK continues to hold influence in various regions throughout the state.

This crucial meeting will be led by Premalatha Vijayakant, the party's general secretary and the widow of the late founder.

As per a statement from the party headquarters, Premalatha is anticipated to address key party officials and members on significant issues related to the party's future, election readiness, and potential alliances for the 2026 elections.

The meeting is likely to feature participation from senior party leaders, high-ranking committee members, state and district secretaries, as well as former MLAs and general and executive council members.

Delegates from union territories and adjacent states including Puducherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and the Andaman Islands will also be present.

The DMDK, a party rooted in the Dravidian movement, was founded on September 14, 2005, in Madurai by Vijayakant, who later took on the role of Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

The party's headquarters, known as Captain Aalayam, is situated in Koyambedu, Chennai. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the DMDK secured 29 out of the 40 seats it contested in an alliance with the AIADMK, becoming the second-largest party in the Assembly.

This landmark victory relegated the DMK to third place, making Vijayakant the first actor to serve as Leader of Opposition in any Indian state Assembly. The party was also awarded a permanent election symbol, the Nagara, by the Election Commission of India. However, Vijayakant resigned from his position on February 21, 2016, following the departure of eight party MLAs.

In the 2024 general elections, the DMDK aligned with the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu, collaborating with Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The party contested five constituencies, including Virudhunagar, where Vijayakant's son, V. Vijaya Prabhakaran, narrowly lost to Congress MP Manickam Tagore by a mere 4,379 votes. NDA candidate and actress Radhika Sarathkumar finished third in that election.

Following the elections, Premalatha Vijayakant sought a Rajya Sabha seat for the party. However, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami clarified that no such commitment had been made. In this context, the April 30 council meeting is expected to be pivotal in shaping the DMDK's future political direction.