India, May 4 -- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary and former chief minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, also known as EPS, contesting the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections from his home constituency of Edappadi in Salem district, was leading with 1,38,330 votes, commanding a margin of 90,278 votes, while Independent candidate Premkumar K trailed with 48,052 votes; Kasi C of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was in third place with 40,221 votes, behind by 98,109, as per EC data.

Leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state, Palaniswami is positioned as the primary challenger to the ruling DMK, running on a platform to "save Tamil Nadu" from what he describes as anarchic and hereditary rule....