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BJP Backs Edappadi K. Palaniswami as CM Face for 2026 Tamil Nadu Polls

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran has firmly declared Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. He launched a sharp critique against the ruling DMK, accusing it of failing to fulfill its numerous election promises. Nagendran also targeted the DMK-Congress alliance, labeling it a "failed engine" and questioning its stability due to contradictory statements from Congress leaders. He further raised concerns about the deterioration of law and order in the state under the current administration.

Key Points: BJP Reaffirms Edappadi Palaniswami as CM Choice for Tamil Nadu

  • BJP's CM face declared
  • Attack on DMK's unfulfilled promises
  • DMK-Congress alliance called "failed engine"
  • Law and order concerns raised in state
2 min read

"Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be our Chief Minister": Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Nainar Nagendran ahead of polls

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran declares Edappadi K. Palaniswami as party's Chief Ministerial candidate, attacks DMK-Congress alliance as a "failed engine."

"We remain firm in our conviction that Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be our Chief Minister. - Nainar Nagendran"

Madurai, February 16

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran on Monday hit out at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, while reaffirming that Edappadi K. Palaniswami is the party's Chief Ministerial choice ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference, Nagendran said, "We remain firm in our conviction that Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be our Chief Minister. The Member of Parliament from Virudhunagar has been meeting with the media regularly and addressing them daily."

Nagendran also raised concerns over governance, saying: "Law and order is of utmost importance in any state, yet in Tamil Nadu, the situation has deteriorated to the extent that even appointing a Director General of Police has become difficult."

He also targeted the ruling DMK, stating, "The DMK made 525 election promises, but they have failed to fulfill all of them."

Earlier, he described the DMK and Congress alliance as a "failed engine", as political campaigning intensifies ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Nagendran on Tuesday said that after the elections, people will clearly know which is the "failed engine," which is the "box engine," and which is the Vande Bharat engine.

The BJP state president questioned the stability and cohesion of the DMK-Congress alliance, citing what he described as contradictory statements by Congress leaders.

"I hear that the DMK alliance itself is a failed engine. The Congress party keeps making contradictory statements. It is not clear whether Congress will remain in the DMK alliance or whether it will end up as a failed engine," he said, casting doubt on the future of the opposition alliance.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026. In the 2021 elections, the DMK-Congress alliance won 151 seats.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Nagendran is right about one thing - law and order needs serious attention. But calling alliances "failed engines" is just political rhetoric. We need concrete plans for jobs and development, not just catchy phrases.
S
Suresh O
As a Tamilian, I appreciate that BJP has named a local leader as their CM face. For too long, national parties parachute leaders. EPS knows the ground reality of our state. Let's see if this strategy works.
A
Anjali F
The "failed engine" vs "Vande Bharat" comparison is clever marketing. But voters are smarter than that. DMK has delivered on many welfare schemes. BJP will have to do more than just criticise to win in Tamil Nadu.
K
Karthik V
Promises, promises. Every party makes them. DMK's 525, BJP's 'Vande Bharat' vision... what matters is implementation. Our state needs stability and growth, not constant political drama.
M
Michael C
Watching from abroad, Tamil Nadu politics is always fascinating. The BJP making inroads here could change the national landscape significantly. EPS seems like a pragmatic choice for them.

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