DMK’s immediate goal is to capture at least half the seats in Salem this time. However, Edappadi K Palaniswami’s towering influence continues to be the AIADMK’s biggest advantage, as he remains synonymous with the district itself.
Published Nov 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Salem.
Synopsis: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu is hoping to loosen the AIADMK decade-long dominance in Salem as the state heads to the crucial 2026 Assembly election. Despite the DMK’s growing presence and welfare outreach, the AIADMK continues to hold most of Salem’s 11 constituencies, backed by a loyal voter base and the personal influence of General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. The coming election will decide whether anti-incumbency, local issues, and the entry of new players such as actor-politician Vijay’s TVK can shift the balance in one of the state’s most high-profile regions.
When one mentions Salem district, most people immediately think of the Malgoa mango. In recent years, however, the district has become closely associated with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Considered one of the oldest inhabited regions in the state, Salem’s history dates back at least 2,000 years. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Roman Empire maintained both cultural and economic ties with this region.
Salem has been a proud city under the rule of many great empires – the Pandyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire, and the Mysore Sulthanate, among others.
Beyond its famed mangoes, Salem is also known for its silver anklet industry, distinctive tapioca cultivation, coffee and pepper plantations in Yercaud, and the rich mineral resources found across the district.
At present, Tourism Minister R Rajendran represents Salem district in the State Cabinet.
The district comprises 11 Assembly constituencies and has a total of 29,99,953 voters – 15,11,922 women, 14,87,707 men, and 324 from other categories.
The Salem Lok Sabha constituency includes six Assembly segments: Omalur, Edappadi, Salem West, Salem North, Salem South, and Veerapandi. The current Member of Parliament representing this constituency is DM Selvakannabathi of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Socially, Salem reflects both northern Tamil Nadu and the Kongu region, and it has long been regarded as an AIADMK stronghold.
In recent years, however, the DMK’s influence has been growing, while the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is also emerging as a significant challenger.
With the 2026 Assembly election approaching, it is worth taking a closer look at the political climate in each constituency.
Since its formation, Salem (West) has largely favoured the AIADMK. However, in the 2021 election, the seat was won by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which contested as part of the AIADMK alliance.
The constituency has 3,05,908 voters – 1,53,973 women, 1,51,857 men, and 78 from other categories. The current MLA is Arul Ramadoss of the PMK.
Edappadi K Palaniswami resides in Nedunchalai Nagar, within this constituency, which locals say contributes to his continued influence in the region.
Economically, the area is well known for its silver anklet production and a large power loom workforce. Socially, Vanniyars form more than half the population, followed by Gounders and a sizeable Dalit community.
One of the long-pending demands among residents is the construction of a railway overbridge at Bodinaickenpatti, along with improvements to roads and basic infrastructure. Across the district, the absence of land pattas (ownership documents) remains a widespread issue affecting several constituencies.
The constituency has remained under AIADMK influence for the past three elections and continues to be considered its stronghold. However, observers note that the DMK’s administrative performance has positioned it as a serious challenger in the upcoming polls.
The Edappadi Assembly constituency is represented by its namesake, Edappadi K Palaniswami. First elected in 1989, the current AIADMK Chief won again in 1991 but could not secure victory between 1996 and 2011.
When he regained the seat in 2011, few in Tamil Nadu politics could have predicted that within a short span, he would rise to become the Chief Minister of the state.
For the past three consecutive elections, this constituency has consistently backed Palaniswami. The seat has a total of 2,90,158 voters – 1,43,628 women, 1,46,507 men, and 23 from other categories.
The Vanniyar community forms the majority here, followed by Gounders and Dalits, who also have a strong presence.
Weaving is a major occupation in this region, but locals have long complained that the handloom and power loom industries are in decline. There are also demands for better infrastructure and basic amenities.
Despite these concerns, Palaniswami continues to maintain a firm hold over the constituency. However, critics often argue that he has remained confined to his home turf, lacking the broader appeal of a pan-Tamil Nadu leader. They accuse him of being reluctant to contest outside Edappadi for fear of defeat – a perception that continues to surface in political discussions.
This has now raised a key question in the state’s political circles: will Palaniswami step out of his home constituency to disprove his critics, or will he stay and defend his seat?
If Palaniswami decides to contest elsewhere, political observers believe the DMK will make a strong bid to capture Edappadi.
Home to the iconic Mettur Dam, the Mettur Assembly constituency carries significant political weight. It is often said that the alliance which wins Mettur goes on to form the government in Tamil Nadu.
However, this belief was disproved in the 2021 election, when the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), contesting as part of the AIADMK alliance, won the seat while the DMK formed the government in the state.
Mettur has 2,77,762 voters – 1,37,747 women, 1,39,997 men, and 18 from other categories. Since 2001, the DMK has not been able to win here, making it a traditional AIADMK stronghold. The current MLA is S Sadasivam of the PMK.
Socially, the Padayatchi community forms a major portion of the population, followed by Dalits and Gounders.
For years, environmental issues have dominated local concerns – particularly air pollution from the Salem Thermal Plant and chemical waste discharge from private industries.
Residents have also been demanding the revival of the Thoni Madavu water project, originally designed to store rainwater flowing from nearby hills to benefit local communities, but left shelved for years.
Among Tamil Nadu’s well-known hill stations, Yercaud holds a special place. The region is known for its coffee and pepper plantations, much of which is exported to other states and countries.
Yercaud is one of only two Scheduled Tribe–reserved constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Agriculture remains the main livelihood here. AIADMK’s G Chithra has represented the constituency for the past two terms, consistently defeating DMK candidates.
While the DMK has won here on occasion, Yercaud has largely remained AIADMK-leaning – a sentiment attributed to the enduring emotional connection that MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa share with the hill communities. Locals also say that DMK leaders have not built strong rapport with the tribal population.
The constituency has 2,86,314 voters – 1,46,584 women, 1,39,714 men, and 16 from other categories. Of these, about one lakh are tribal voters, followed by Vanniyars and Dalits.
For years, small farmers have complained that middlemen buy coffee and pepper at very low prices, causing major losses and preventing them from earning fair profits. There have also been persistent grievances that tribal families living in the hills for over a century still lack land titles (pattas), leading to bureaucratic difficulties.
Despite government programmes for education and employment, locals say lack of awareness prevents many from accessing these benefits. Even educated youth often end up taking daily-wage work. Residents stress the need for greater awareness and outreach.
As for the DMK, its repeated candidate C Tamilselvan has faced consecutive defeats. Locals believe he has a poor public image, making victory unlikely even if he is re-nominated.
Meanwhile, though AIADMK’s Chithra retains goodwill after two terms, some discontent remains that she has not implemented major projects during her current tenure. Locals feel that if the DMK fields a fresh and credible candidate, it could stand a real chance of winning this time.
Aathur is among Salem’s two Scheduled Caste–reserved constituencies. The current MLA is AP Jayasankaran. The constituency has a total of 2,43,138 voters – 1,25,473 women, 1,17,645 men, and 20 from other categories.
Like Yercaud, Aathur has been consistently won by the AIADMK since 2011. Though the DMK has secured victory here a few times in the past, the Congress and AIADMK have largely dominated the constituency over the years.
The region includes many hill villages, and the tribal population is significant. More than half of the voters belong to Scheduled Castes, followed by Kongu Gounders.
About 140 villages from the Kalvarayan Hills fall under this constituency. Residents say that long-pending issues related to basic amenities remain unresolved. They also allege harassment by the Forest Department and cite the denial of land titles (pattas) to hill dwellers as continuing grievances.
With growing anti-incumbency sentiment against the AIADMK, locals believe the DMK may find favourable ground here in the upcoming election.
Gangavalli, the other Scheduled Caste–reserved seat in the district, is primarily an agriculture-based region where maize, cotton, tapioca, paddy, and sugarcane are the main crops. The constituency has 2,31,665 voters – 1,19,065 women, 1,12,591 men, and 9 from other categories.
The current MLA is A Nallathambi of the AIADMK, and since its creation, Gangavalli has largely remained an AIADMK stronghold.
Socially, Dalits form the majority, followed by Padayatchis, Vanniyars, Udayars, and Gounders in mixed proportions.
Persistent issues in the area include disputes over Panchami land, delays in issuing pattas, and poor transport connectivity. Locals also suggest that setting up agro-based industries could help generate employment and strengthen the local economy.
Since 1971, the DMK has never won the Omalur constituency, making it one of the most AIADMK-leaning seats in Salem district. The constituency, with 3,02,622 voters—1,48,350 women, 1,54,258 men, and 14 from other categories—is currently represented by R Mani of the AIADMK.
Demographically, Vanniyars form the dominant community, followed by Gounders, Mudaliars, and a significant Dalit population.
The constituency’s economy is largely agrarian, with chrysanthemum flowers, sugarcane, and paddy as the key crops. It is also known for jaggery production and silk weaving. The Salem airport is located close to this constituency.
Despite its long-standing loyalty to the AIADMK, in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the DMK’s DM Selvakannabathi secured the highest vote share from Omalur among all Salem segments – a sign that the DMK’s ground strength may be growing.
The Sankagiri constituency, home to the historic Sankagiri Fort, reflects Salem’s rich heritage.
Electorally, it has alternated between the DMK (five times) and the AIADMK (six times). For the past three consecutive elections, the AIADMK has retained the seat. The current MLA is S Sundararajan of the AIADMK.
The constituency has 2,72,849 voters – 1,35,519 women, 1,37,313 men, and 17 from other categories.
The Kongu Vellalar community forms the majority, followed by Sengunthars and Dalits.
Locals report frequent caste-related tensions and say that crime incidents, including murder and robbery, have been on the rise.
Another major concern is the lack of industrial facilities to support the region’s well-known lorry body-building industry, which provides livelihood to many. Residents have been demanding government support and infrastructure for this sector – an issue expected to resonate strongly in the coming election.
The Salem North Assembly constituency is one of the most significant in the district, home to key government institutions such as the District Collectorate, courts, and several administrative offices. It is also represented by Tourism Minister R Rajendran.
Salem North has 2,71,620 voters – 1,39,580 women, 1,31,992 men, and 48 from other categories.
As an urban constituency, its population is socially diverse, dominated by Vanniyars, followed by Backward Communities, Muslims, Dalits, and Sourashtra residents.
Since delimitation, the DMK has won the seat twice, while the AIADMK alliance has won it once. Rajendran has secured victory both times for the DMK.
Being a city-based constituency, the main concerns here include traffic congestion, groundwater contamination from sewage, and encroachment of water bodies. Despite these issues, the DMK continues to maintain a strong presence in the area.
Like Salem North, the Salem South constituency is predominantly urban and commercially vibrant. Textile trade, silver anklet manufacturing, and other small-scale industries form the backbone of its economy.
It has 2,54,403 voters – 1,30,387 women, 1,23,957 men, and 59 from other categories. The current MLA is E Balasubramaniam of the AIADMK.
Since the delimitation that created the present Salem South seat, the AIADMK has consistently won here.
The constituency has a mixed demographic – Mudaliars, Chettiars, Sourashtras, Muslims, Dalits, and a notable Kannada-speaking Devanga community.
Key civic issues include severe traffic congestion and frequent flooding, largely attributed to encroachments along the Raj Vaikkal canal. The absence of patta (land ownership documents) for many residents also remains a long-pending problem.
With the DMK government’s recent welfare schemes gaining traction among the public, a close contest is expected in this constituency in the 2026 election.
The Veerapandi constituency holds historical significance as the birthplace of the late Veerapandi S Arumugam, a long-time DMK district secretary and former minister. He had also won once from this constituency.
The constituency has 2,63,514 voters – 1,31,616 women, 1,31,876 men, and 22 from other categories. The current MLA is M Rajamuthu of the AIADMK.
Since 2011, the AIADMK has maintained its hold here. Over the decades, the seat has alternated between the DMK (six times) and the AIADMK (seven times), making it a true swing constituency.
Socially, the area is home to Vanniyars, Gounders, Chettiars, and Dalits.
Local residents cite frequent road accidents as a major issue and demand stronger road safety measures. They also complain about the lack of public toilets and the pollution of the Thirumanimutharu river, which they say is choked with dye waste from local industries.
In terms of political influence, the AIADMK remains stronger than the DMK in Salem district. In the 2021 Assembly election, out of the 11 constituencies, the DMK won only one – making Salem one of the districts where it suffered a major setback.
As a result, the DMK’s immediate goal is to capture at least half the seats in Salem this time. However, Edappadi K Palaniswami’s towering influence continues to be the AIADMK’s biggest advantage, as he remains synonymous with the district itself.
On the DMK side, no single leader of comparable stature has emerged to counter Palaniswami’s dominance. Persistent factionalism among the DMK’s district functionaries is an open secret in political circles, further reinforcing the AIADMK’s position.
Still, anti-incumbency sentiments against the AIADMK and the visibility of DMK government schemes over the past four and a half years may shift voter sentiment in certain pockets. Observers believe that in several constituencies, the DMK is likely to mount a serious challenge.
Many locals express optimism that the DMK will perform better in 2026 than it did in 2021. At the same time, actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is said to be gaining momentum – especially among younger voters and rural communities, where attendance at its meetings has been steadily increasing.
As things stand, both major parties—the AIADMK and the DMK—appear evenly matched in terms of voter support. The outcome will depend heavily on candidate selection, youth sentiment, and local issues.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
