CHENNAI: A day after releasing its manifesto for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, the AIADMK became the first off the block by announcing the first list of candidates, on Wednesday (March 25).
The list was released even before the seat identification within the National Democratic Alliance, which the AIADMK is leading in Tamil Nadu, concluded, indicating that the Dravidian major is not willing to negotiate on what it deems as its strongholds.
The list, approved by the party’s governing council, is headlined by AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, who will contest from his stronghold Edappadi in Salem district.
The others in the 23-name list are all senior leaders; 21 of them are former ministers and 16 sitting MLAs. Former ministers C Ve Shanmugam and KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, who lost in Villupuram and Rajapalayam seats, respectively in 2021 polls, have shifted to Mailam and Sivakasi seats for the April 23 polls.
Prominent names in the first list include KP Munusamy (Veppanahalli), Dindigul C Srinivasan (Dindigul), Natham R Visvanathan (Natham), SP Velumani (Thondamuthur), and D Jayakumar (Royapuram).
Other candidates include Sellur K Raju (Madurai West), KP Anbazhagan (Palacode), OS Manian (Vedaranyam), Dr C Vijayabaskar (Viralimalai), and RB Udhayakumar (Thirumangalam), among others.
In a statement, the AIADMK said the list reflects a mix of experienced leadership and constituency-focused representation, aimed at strengthening its grassroots connections.
Citing public dissatisfaction with the incumbent DMK government, Palaniswami said the AIADMK campaign would focus on key issues such as law and order, women’s safety, farmer welfare, and economic relief for families facing rising costs.
He expressed confidence that the AIADMK-led alliance would secure a decisive mandate.