Is Palaniswami Ready to Launch the 2nd Phase of His Election Campaign on July 24?

Chennai, July 14 (NationPress) The AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is set to kick off the second phase of his statewide election campaign, titled 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom (Let’s Protect the People, Revive Tamil Nadu)', on July 24 at Gandharvakottai in Pudukkottai district.

This segment of the campaign will span eight districts and is planned to wrap up on August 8 in Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar district.

The initial phase of the campaign commenced on July 7 in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore district, and is currently ongoing, with a conclusion set for July 23 in Pattukottai. During this stage, Palaniswami has already visited 13 Assembly constituencies across the districts of Coimbatore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore.

Without any pause, EPS will seamlessly transition into the second phase, maintaining his critical stance against the DMK government led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He has consistently asserted that the primary goal of the campaign is to displace the DMK from power and reinstate AIADMK governance in Tamil Nadu.

A major focus of Palaniswami’s campaign has been the alleged shortcomings of the DMK in delivering on its 2021 electoral promises. He has also scrutinized the government regarding issues like rising power tariffs and increased tax burdens. However, his remarks about the DMK’s choice to utilize temple funds from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for educational institutions have ignited political controversy.

The ruling DMK, along with its allies—CPI(M), CPI, and VCK—have accused EPS of mirroring the ideological perspective of the RSS and BJP, thus aligning himself with right-wing ideologies.

In response to the backlash, the AIADMK leader had to provide clarifications during subsequent campaign events to mitigate any negative impact.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Kerala, asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure a majority in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and form the next government. This declaration has heightened speculation regarding future political collaborations in the state, particularly as Palaniswami has indicated that the AIADMK is poised to compete in the elections independently, dismissing any coalition with the BJP.

The divergent positions of these two former allies have infused uncertainty into the opposition’s strategy, even as the AIADMK aims to leverage anti-incumbency sentiment and gain early traction ahead of the pivotal 2026 elections.