India, April 13 -- Ahead of the high-stakes Tamil Nadu assembly elections, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) speaks to HT on a range of critical issues shaping the 2026 polls. Edited excerpts:

What is the mood you are sensing on the ground?

I have been meeting people since July last year with the slogan, "let's protect the people. Let us save Tamil Nadu." Everywhere I go, I can sense that people are disgusted with the current DMK rule in the state. I have seen first hand, the anger and rage of the people affected by the anarchy of the ruling party, the breakdown of law and order, murder, robbery, rape, a situation where children or the elderly do not fee...