CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win 210 seats in the 2026 Assembly election and form the government in the State.
Speaking at a conclave on development, innovation and the future of Dravidian ideology, he said the upcoming election would put an end to what he described as the DMK’s corrupt and dynastic politics.
He alleged that leadership within the DMK was confined to members of one family and questioned why Duraimurugan, the longest-serving MLA, was not made Deputy Chief Minister.
Recalling a statement by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Palaniswami said it had already been made clear that the AIADMK would lead the alliance and that he was the Chief Ministerial candidate. He claimed the AIADMK enjoyed the people's goodwill, while accusing the DMK of lacking the courage and capability to challenge his party and of deliberately creating confusion.
Referring to TTV Dhinakaran, he said he was originally part of the AIADMK and had floated a separate outfit due to internal divisions. Now, he said, they had come together to unseat the DMK government, adding that there was no pressure behind the alliance.
On the alliance with the BJP, Palaniswami said criticism was inevitable whenever the AIADMK entered into alliances. He pointed out that the DMK had also allied with the BJP in the past, and said alliances were electoral in nature, while ideology remained permanent. Decisions on alliances, he said, were taken based on prevailing circumstances.
Commenting on actor Vijay’s entry into politics, Palaniswami said he was an excellent actor but had only just entered the political arena and was relying on his fan base. The AIADMK, he said, relied on the people, and Vijay’s political impact could be assessed only after elections.
He said there would be no dissension within the alliance with the AMMK and TTV Dhinakaran, and that once an alliance was formed, alliance dharma would apply, with all parties working together to ensure victory.
On the issue of reinstating O Panneerselvam in the AIADMK, Palaniswami reiterated that he had been removed from the party’s primary membership and there was no scope for his return. He again maintained that the AIADMK would lead the government if the alliance won, accusing the DMK of spreading deliberate confusion on the matter.
Meanwhile, speaking at a meeting in MGR Nagar, Chennai, Palaniswami said that five years of DMK rule had not benefited the people. He alleged that only four members of the DMK family were effectively ruling the State and claimed there was an ongoing rift between the DMK and the Congress, predicting that the Congress would soon exit the alliance.
Referring to investments garnered during the DMK regime, he alleged that they existed only on paper. He challenged Chief Minister MK Stalin to a one-on-one debate on the schemes implemented during the previous AIADMK government.