AIADMK Chief EPS Begins Mass Campaign Drive In Tamil Nadu With Mega Padayatra Ahead of Assembly Elections

Chennai: Tamil Nadu's former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami is set to embark on a 14-day statewide padyatra titled Puratchi Thamizharin Ezhuchi Payanam — Revolutionary Tamilians’ Journey of Rise — ahead of next year’s Assembly elections. His outreach campaign to the people of the state will begin in Coimbatore on July 7 and conclude in Thanjavur on July 21, covering key constituencies across eight districts during the first leg of the padyatra.

This outreach is part of the party’s broader political campaign titled Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom (Let us protect the people, let us save Tamil Nadu), which Palaniswami announced during a party meeting last year.

The campaign was initially scheduled to begin earlier but was delayed due to internal party preparations, including the strengthening of booth-level committees and district-level meetings.

In the first leg of the padyatra, the AIADMK leader will cover western Tamil Nadu, as well as parts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, and Thanjavur.

During the campaign, Palaniswami is expected to hold public meetings and interact with local leaders, party workers, and the general public in each region.

Full Schedule of AIADMK’s Puratchi Thamizharin Ezhuchi Payanam

What’s the Route?

The AIADMK has directed its district secretaries, former MLAs and MPs, local-level functionaries, and cadres to participate in large numbers during the scheduled tour.

The campaign will focus on highlighting governance issues under the current DMK government and on re-establishing AIADMK’s grassroots presence.

This padyatra comes at a time when Chief Minister MK Stalin is touring various districts to launch government projects and hold public meetings.

Actor Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is also planning a statewide outreach campaign beginning in August from the Cauvery Delta region.

In recent months, Palaniswami has conducted multiple meetings with district secretaries to finalise  campaign plans and assess booth-level readiness.

The AIADMK has also carried out protests and local outreach initiatives in various districts, primarily focusing on law and order as well as broader governance concerns.

Here’s a snapshot of the 2016 and 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results for the seats that EPS will cover during his Padayatra.

BJP-AIADMK to form Alliance for Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: Amit Shah

Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, AIADMK and BJP have already announced their alliance to challenge the DMK-led government.

Union Minister Amit Shah has said that the NDA government, comprising the BJP-AIADMK alliance, will be formed in Tamil Nadu in 2026.

Addressing district and mandal level office bearers of the BJP in Madurai this month, Shah stated, "The NDA government of the BJP-AIADMK alliance will be formed here in 2026. I live in Delhi, but my ears are always on Tamil Nadu. MK Stalin says that Amit Shah cannot defeat the DMK. He is right. Not me, but the people of Tamil Nadu will defeat you."

"I have been a part of many elections and understand the sentiments of the people. This time, the people of Tamil Nadu will uproot the DMK from the state," the Union Minister added.

Palaniswami’s padyatra is shaping up to be one of the party’s most visible efforts to reconnect with voters and rebuild its political machinery on the ground before the 2026 polls.