Palaniswami Predicts AIADMK’s 210-Seat Victory to Crush Stalin’s DMK Dream

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday predicted a resounding defeat for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's DMK in next year's Assembly elections, claiming his party's alliance would clinch 210 seats and crush the ruling party's ambitious goal of securing 200. Addressing a massive rally in Harur constituency, Dharmapuri district, Palaniswami cited the overflowing crowds at his statewide events as a barometer of public sentiment, signalling a shift away from the DMK's governance. The former Chief Minister, who led AIADMK to power in 2017 before losing in 2021, framed the 2026 polls as a referendum on unfulfilled promises and alleged mismanagement.

Palaniswami's post on X amplified the rally's energy, stating, "Look at the huge crowd that had gathered in Dharmapuri district’s Harur Assembly constituency, @mkstalin. This gathering of the people is proof that the AIADMK alliance will win 210 seats next year, shattering your dream of winning 200 seats." The event, part of AIADMK's aggressive outreach in rural strongholds, drew thousands despite the post-monsoon heat, underscoring the party's efforts to rebuild after internal schisms and the 2021 drubbing.

Tamil Nadu's 234-seat Assembly elections, due by May 2026, are shaping up as a bipolar contest between DMK's secular, welfare-focused alliance and AIADMK's Dravidian rival, backed by NDA partners like BJP, amid voter fatigue over issues like inflation and unemployment.

Criticising Stalin's track record, Palaniswami accused the DMK of betraying its 2021 manifesto, which included 525 promises, claiming fewer than 10% had been delivered despite boasts of 98% fulfilment. "They neither give subsidies for LPG cylinders nor cancel education loans nor give additional sugar through the fair price shops. They did not reduce the prices of petrol and diesel," he alleged, pointing to an Rs 10 hike per liquor bottle and Rs 22,000 crore in alleged misappropriation over four years.

These barbs tap into persistent grievances in a state where DMK's freebie model—monthly cash aid for women and subsidised essentials—has sustained its base, but rising liquor revenue (up 15% annually) fuels opposition narratives of fiscal profligacy.

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Palaniswami promised a return to AIADMK's infrastructure legacy, pledging to revive the shelved Harur Kumaran Dam project from his 2017-2021 tenure and address farmers' demands to divert surplus water from the Thenpennai River to irrigate 93 local lakes. These commitments resonate in agrarian Dharmapuri, where water scarcity affects 60% of farmland.

As alliances solidify—DMK with Congress and Left parties, AIADMK with PMK and potentially BJP—the 2026 race could hinge on turnout in western districts. With Stalin's approval ratings hovering at 55% per recent CSDS surveys, Palaniswami's combative rhetoric aims to erode that edge, positioning AIADMK as the true custodian of Tamil pride and development.

Also Read: EPS Predicts AIADMK-DMK Showdown in 2026 Tamil Nadu Polls