AIADMK, PMK to give DMK a tough fight in Salem

Facing elections for the first time as AIADMK general secretary, winning Salem is crucial for Edappadi K. Palaniswami in order to prevent backlash from party rebels

Salem is gearing up for a threeway battle in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The DMK, the ruling party in the state, is making a concerted effort to win the Salem Parliamentary Constituency, as it is the home district of AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Winning Salem is crucial for Mr. Palaniswami, facing elections for the first time as the general secretary of the party, to prevent any backlash from party rebels O. Panneerselvam and T.T.V. Dhinakaran. However, the PMK and NTK are putting up a strong fight and slowly chipping away at AIADMK’s hopes of winning.

Salem has a majority of Vanniyar caste people (40%), followed by scheduled castes, Vellala Gounders, and other castes. In Salem Corporation, which covers Salem South and Salem North constituencies, there are high numbers of people belonging to Devangars, Mudaliars, and Pillai castes.

Keeping this in mind, DMK, AIADMK, and PMK have fielded candidates who belong to the Vanniyar community.

Of the six assembly constituencies that come under the Salem Parliamentary constituency, Salem

South has always been an AIADMK fort. Even in 2006, when the DMK formed the state government, Ravichandran of the AIADMK won in Salem South. On the other hand, Salem North is considered to be a DMK stronghold due to the presence of government employees and minorities.

The DMK has nominated former Minister T.M. Selvaganapathy, renowned for his election work during stints in both the AIADMK and DMK. Mr. Selvaganapathy had previously contested in Salem in 1999 as an AIADMK candidate and emerged victorious. His popularity in the district and his fluency in both Tamil and English give him an advantage.

During his campaign, Mr. Selvaganapathy criticised the AIADMK and its general secretary, while carefully refraining from mentioning the PMK.

Issues like the longdelayed underground drainage works in the Corporation, the slow progress of the 100lake scheme, and the influence of the PMK vote bank pose challenges for the DMK candidate. Party members, however, are confident that the strong manifestos of the DMK and Congress, as well as a split in opposition votes, will give them the edge they need.

The AIADMK has fielded P. Vignesh, a young, relatively unknown candidate who, during his campaign, struggled to effectively communicate campaign issues. However, AIADMK officials are confident that the development projects implemented during their regime in Salem, the law and order issues under the DMK regime, and the campaign efforts of Mr. Palaniswami will ensure their victory.

The PMK will field N. Annadurai, who in the 2016 assembly elections came second in the Edappadi constituency ahead of the DMK, will be contesting. The PMK believes the BJP helps them attract votes in urban pockets due to the support it gained during BJP state president K. Annamalai’s En Mann En Makkal Yatra.

The NTK, whose vote share went up from 33,590 votes in the 2019 general elections to 54,847 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections, has fielded G. Manoj Kumar and believes it will secure more votes in this election, especially from firsttime voters.