Chennai, May 4: AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday accepted the people’s mandate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, saying democracy rests on the verdict delivered by voters.
The AIADMK, which contested 169 constituencies as part of the NDA alliance, managed to take the lead in around 50 seats, reflecting a disappointing performance for the opposition party in the high-stakes electoral battle.
In a statement issued in Chennai, Palaniswami thanked the electorate for actively participating in the democratic process and exercising their franchise during the Assembly elections held on April 23.
“I express my gratitude to all the people who rose up and performed their democratic duty in the Assembly elections,” he said.
Acknowledging the outcome, the AIADMK leader said the people remain the ultimate judges in a democracy and that he fully respects their decision.
“The people are the judges here. Therefore, I wholeheartedly accept the decision given by the people,” Palaniswami stated.
Despite the electoral setback, the former Chief Minister struck a hopeful tone and expressed confidence that the party would recover politically in the coming years.
“We will soon recover from this setback,” he added, indicating that the AIADMK would continue its efforts to strengthen the party organisation and reconnect with voters across the state.
Palaniswami also extended his appreciation to leaders of the NDA alliance and thousands of AIADMK workers who campaigned extensively during the election season.
He praised party cadres for their dedication and hard work throughout the campaign, saying their efforts would help the party rebuild for future political contests.
The elections to all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu were conducted on April 23 amid intense campaigning by major political parties and alliances across the state.