CHENNAI:
In a calculated electoral strategy ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has reassigned key leaders to new constituencies, with former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and K.T. Rajendra Balaji switching seats in a bid to improve their chances of victory.
C.V. Shanmugam, who was defeated in Villupuram in the 2021 elections, will now contest from Mayilam, a constituency considered favourable for the party. A close associate of party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Shanmugam is expected to benefit from strong organisational backing in the new seat.
Similarly, K.T. Rajendra Balaji, who lost in Rajapalayam in the previous election, has been fielded from Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district. The move is seen as an attempt to leverage the party’s cadre strength in the region and regain lost ground in southern Tamil Nadu.
The constituency reshuffle forms part of the AIADMK’s first list of 23 candidates, which includes several senior leaders and former ministers. Political observers view these changes as a strategic effort to counter the ruling DMK’s advantage and maximise winnability in key constituencies, as the State prepares for a closely contested Assembly election.