Palaniswami Vows To Forge Grand AIADMK Alliance To Defeat DMK In 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced his party’s intention to form a formidable alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, aiming to oust the ruling DMK, Indian Express reported.

Speaking at a public meeting of the AIADMK’s youth forum, Ilaigyargal-Ilam Pengal Pasarai, he also criticised Chief Minister M K Stalin over rising crimes against women and children.

Mocking Stalin’s assertion that parties within the DMK-led alliance shared the same ideology, Palaniswami remarked, “In that case, what is the need for separate parties? All the parties could be merged with the DMK.”

He clarified that, for the AIADMK, ideology and electoral alliances are distinct, and alliances were necessary only to avoid vote-splitting and secure victory.

“A very big alliance headed by the AIADMK will be formed for the 2026 Assembly election,” he declared, adding that both the public and party cadres were in favour of such a coalition.

Acceding to their wishes, he assured that a “victorious alliance of strength” would be established to ensure an AIADMK-led government.

Despite actor-politician Vijay’s TVK party ruling out an alliance with the AIADMK, speculation regarding its political positioning remains.

He accused the DMK of double standards, pointing out that despite its anti-BJP stance, it had participated in the stamp release function of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi alongside BJP Union Ministers.

Further, he claimed that the INDI Alliance had weakened since the DMK joined it, alleging that its constituents lacked genuine commitment.

Palaniswami criticised the DMK’s opportunistic political history, recalling that it had allied with the BJP-led NDA in 1999 and later switched to the Congress-led UPA in 2004.

“The DMK is an opportunistic party, and it changes its colours like a chameleon. They will compromise on anything for the sake of power,” he alleged.

Regarding the National Education Policy, he opposed the Centre’s insistence on implementing the three-language policy as a condition for educational funds.

He asserted that Tamil Nadu would continue following its two-language policy of Tamil and English, reaffirming the AIADMK’s commitment to this stance.

Additionally, he urged the ruling DMK to leverage its 39 MPs in Parliament to secure pending MGNREGA funds for Tamil Nadu and called upon the Centre to release all dues owed to the state for the benefit of its people.