Palaniswami Resumes State-wide Tour from Gobichettipalayam, Signals Firm Control Ahead of 2026 Elections

Chennai, Nov 2025 : AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is set to resume his large-scale public outreach programme, nearly 50 days after it was suspended following the tragic stampede at the TVK rally in Karur. The incident had resulted in a temporary statewide ban on political rallies and public meetings, putting a halt to all major organisational activities.

The AIADMK announced on Sunday that EPS will restart his “Makkalai Kappom, Tamilagathai Meetpom” tour on November 30, choosing the symbolic constituency of Gobichettipalayam in Erode district as the starting point. The choice is politically significant: Gobichettipalayam is the stronghold of former minister and nine-time MLA K.A. Sengottaiyan, a once-powerful leader who was recently expelled from the party.

A Calculated Return to a Symbolic Turf

Political observers view EPS’s decision to begin the sixth phase of his tour in Sengottaiyan’s home turf as a deliberate move to reassert dominance over a region where the expelled leader still retains pockets of influence. Sengottaiyan, long regarded as a heavyweight within the Gounder community, represented Gobichettipalayam eight times and played a major role within the party before being sidelined during EPS’s rise to the top leadership.

His public call earlier this year to reunite all factions of the AIADMK to ensure victory in the 2026 election triggered disciplinary action and his expulsion. EPS is now expected to sharpen his criticism of Sengottaiyan during the Gobichettipalayam meeting, signalling that the leadership will not entertain demands for “unity” that involve reinstating expelled leaders.

Party insiders say efforts are already underway to mobilize cadres in large numbers, reinforcing the perception that EPS remains firmly in control and enjoys undiminished support from the grassroots.

Resuming the Massive Outreach Drive

After launching the outreach campaign on July 7 in Coimbatore, Palaniswami has so far toured 174 constituencies across five phases. The sixth phase—originally scheduled to begin in early September—was postponed due to the Karur tragedy and subsequent ban on rallies. EPS is expected to cover the remaining 60 constituencies, including several key segments in Chennai, as he attempts to rebuild momentum ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

General Council and Executive Committee Meet on December 10

Meanwhile, the AIADMK has announced that its General Council and Executive Committee meetings will be held in Chennai on December 10. The meeting will be chaired by Presidium Chairman Tamilmagan Hussain and presided over by EPS.

The agenda includes:

• Strengthening the party’s organisational structure
• Improving coordination between various party wings
• Discussing election strategy and alliance possibilities
• Reviewing defections of senior leaders to the DMK
• Preparing for large-scale political and public outreach programmes

This will also be the first major session of the party’s top decision-making bodies after the AIADMK renewed its electoral ties with the BJP, signalling a renewed strategic alignment for 2026.

Alliance Strategy in Focus

With the 2026 elections approaching, alliance-building is set to be a central topic. The party is working to revive ties with former allies such as:

• PMK, which is facing internal leadership disputes
• DMDK, founded by the late Vijayakanth
• Other smaller and like-minded regional players

The AIADMK aims to assemble a robust coalition to challenge the DMK-led front, which has secured consecutive electoral victories since 2019.

Unity Demands Expected—but Rejected

Although several expelled leaders, including O. Panneerselvam, V.K. Sasikala, and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, have demanded reinstatement under the banner of party unity, EPS has categorically dismissed such proposals. The leadership believes that revisiting old fault lines would only weaken the party ahead of a crucial election cycle.

EPS has urged all office-bearers and cadres to attend the December 10 meeting and extend full cooperation as the party enters an intense phase of mobilisation, strategy, and consolidation.