AIADMK Releases 127 More Candidates for Tamil Nadu Polls, DMK Alleges Internal Rift

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Friday released its second list of 127 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, taking the total number of nominees announced to 150 so far, as the party steps up preparations as the principal opposition leading the NDA in the state.

The fresh list follows the party’s first set of 23 candidates announced earlier this week, which included senior leaders and former ministers contesting from their traditional strongholds.

The second list spans constituencies across the state and features a mix of former MLAs, sitting legislators, and new faces.

Among the prominent picks, Leema Rose has been fielded from Lalgudi. She is the wife of lottery baron Santiago Martin and mother-in-law of Aadhav Arjuna, making her candidature politically notable.

Advocate wing deputy secretary Mangulam K Mahendran will contest from Madurai East.

The party has also given tickets to several former MLAs, including K Manickam from Sholavandan, P Saravanan from Madurai North, and I. Mahendran from Usilampatti, indicating a reliance on experienced leaders in key constituencies. Sitting MLA P Periya Pullan alias Selvam has been renominated from Melur, signalling continuity in select segments.

Other important names in the list include former whip R Manoharan from Srirangam and former Trichy MP P Kumar from Thiruverumbur. The party has also fielded Amman K. Arjunan from Coimbatore South, while Madurai North is set to see Dr P Saravanan, who recently joined the AIADMK from the BJP, contest on the party’s ticket.

DMK Flags 'Internal Rift'

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was quick to react to the announcement, alleging that the list reflects internal factionalism within the AIADMK.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said the second list exposes “groupism and an ongoing shadow war” within the party, particularly between senior leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami, SP Velumani and P Thangamani.

He claimed that leaders seen as loyal to Velumani were denied opportunities in Coimbatore region, including constituencies such as Singanallur, Kinathukadavu and Kavundampalayam, where candidates aligned with Palaniswami were fielded instead.

Annadurai also alleged that internal rivalries influenced seat-sharing with the BJP in the region, claiming the party was restricted to just one seat in Coimbatore. “In the middle of such infighting, where is the AIADMK even thinking about its electoral prospects?” he said.

Bigger Electoral Picture

Earlier, in its first list, the AIADMK had renominated party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami from his home constituency Edappadi, along with several senior leaders such as D Jayakumar, C Vijayabaskar, and SP Velumani.

The party has already finalised seat-sharing arrangements with NDA allies, allotting 65 out of the total 234 Assembly seats to partners including the Bharatiya Janata Party, PMK, and others, while retaining the lion’s share for itself.

With 150 candidates now declared, the AIADMK has covered a significant portion of its quota and is expected to announce the remaining names soon as it prepares to take on the ruling DMK-led alliance in the high-stakes Assembly polls next month.