AIADMK Candidates 2026 List: AIADMK names 23 candidates for Tamil Nadu polls; Palaniswami among key nominees

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Wednesday released its first list of 23 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, 2026, marking the party’s formal entry into the electoral fray.

The list was announced by party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who is also among the candidates fielded in the initial round.


In a statement, Palaniswami said the candidates were finalised after due consideration by the party’s governing council and would contest from their respective constituencies in the upcoming elections.


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Several senior AIADMK leaders have been included in the first list. Key names include K P Munusamy (Veppanahalli), Dindigul C Srinivasan (Dindigul), Natham R Viswanathan (Natham), S P Velumani (Thondamuthur), and D Jayakumar (Royapuram).

Other prominent candidates named are P Balakrishna (Krishnagiri), C V Shanmugam (Hosur), S K Rajendran (Maduranthakam), K P Anbazhagan (Palacode), R K Nagaraj (Pennagaram), and O S Manian (Velur).

The party has also fielded Dr C Vijayabaskar (Virudhachalam), Kadambur C Raju (Kovilpatti), R B Udhayakumar (Tirumangalam), K T Rajenthra Bhalaji (Sivakasi), P Pandi (Madurai East), A K Selvaraj (Cumbum), V Rajan Chellappa (Tirupparankundram), K C Karuppannan (Manamadurai), K C Karuppasamy (Sholavandan), and M R Vijayabhaskar (Karaikudi).

More names are expected to be announced in subsequent lists.

NDA seat-sharing takes shape

The announcement comes amid ongoing alliance negotiations within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu.


Also Read: Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly Elections: AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami

Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G K Vasan on Tuesday said the party has finalised a seat-sharing agreement with the AIADMK-led NDA and will contest five constituencies.

Vasan expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, saying it would win all five seats and contribute to the NDA’s bid to form the government in the state. He also said the party would contest on the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol instead of its traditional ‘Cycle’ emblem due to technical issues with the Election Commission.

Polling on April 23

Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The tenure of the 234-member Assembly ends on May 10.


With inputs from PTI