"We expect EPS to become Tamil Nadu CM...": BJP leader K Annamalai ahead of Assembly elections 2026

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 15 : BJP leader K Annamalai on Wednesday exuded confidence in the victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying that EPS is expected to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu this time.

"We are confident in Coimbatore, and across Tamil Nadu, this time, the NDA will come to power with a huge mandate. People of Tamil Nadu want change. They want DMK to get out of the government. We are in Singanallur, where the sitting MLA, KR Jayaram, has earned people's trust. He is a very senior AIADMK leader. Across all the places we are campaigning, the response is massive. This time, we expect Edappadi K Palaniswami to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu with a huge mandate," he said.

Speaking on the resistance of Chief Minister MK Stalin to the Women Reservation Bill, he said that Stalin is indulging in politics on the proposal because he can see defeat staring at him in the forthcoming Assembly elections 2026.

"Tamil Nadu CM usually wants to do politics over nothing and everything. The mothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu have made it clear that they want the 33 per cent reservation as fast as possible. Tamil Nadu CM can see defeat staring at him, so he chose to make politics out of it," the BJP leader added.

The remarks come as Tamil Nadu nears polling in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

The main contest is the elections is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Indian National Congress, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with TVK, which may turn the contest into a three-way fight.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor