AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has urged party functionaries and cadres to unite and work towards regaining the trust of minorities and rallying AIADMK supporters to return to power in the 2026 elections.

EPS made this appeal on the first day of the second phase of the constituency-wise review of the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha polls at the party headquarters on Wednesday. The review, focused on introspecting the factors behind the party’s electoral setbacks, began with an analysis of Theni and Arani constituencies. Senior leaders, functionaries involved in electioneering, and candidates from these constituencies participated in the discussion.

In Theni, the AIADMK candidate suffered a significant defeat, losing the deposit and finishing in third place behind AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran. Former minister RB Udhayakumar, a prominent figure in the Thevar community within the current AIADMK leadership, along with other campaign functionaries, shared their insights on the electoral outcome.

VT Narayanaswamy, the AIADMK candidate in Theni, secured 1.55 lakh votes, accounting for 13.63% of the total votes polled. Theni was notably the only constituency that favored AIADMK in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, sources indicated that Dhinakaran’s popularity among the locals and the Thevar community significantly diverted votes away from AIADMK.

Representatives from Arani also voiced their perspectives during the review. EPS emphasized the need for unity and addressing the issues that led to the party’s poor performance. He called on the party members to come together and work diligently to rectify these issues and strengthen AIADMK’s position for the upcoming elections.

This concerted effort aims to rebuild the party’s support base and regain the confidence of voters, particularly among minority communities, ensuring a robust strategy to secure victory in the 2026 elections.