DMK confident of Kongu sweep: Senthil Balaji spells out the plan

The Kongu belt, traditionally a stronghold of the AIADMK, is now witnessing significant shifts. Senthil Balaji, the face of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the region, speaks about his whirlwind campaign and his strategy to challenge the entrenched AIADMK leadership. In an exclusive conversation with The Federal, he elaborates on the challenges ahead, his party’s plans, and how he views the current political environment.

Edited excerpts:

How do you assess the current political climate in the Kongu region as you campaign ahead of the 2026 elections?

It’s going very well. Specifically, regarding the Western region, we are seeing strong support for the leadership of our Chief Minister and DMK, which is resonating with the people. In this election, we intend to rectify the narrow margins of defeat we saw in the previous election.

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We are directly taking the administration's beneficial schemes to the people and expect strong support for our Chief Minister.

In the 2021 elections, the margins were very narrow in some constituencies. Do you believe the AIADMK still holds the upper hand in this region?

Looking at the previous election results, in one constituency, the margin of defeat was just 1,400 votes; in another, it was 1,800 votes; and in yet another, it was 4,000 votes. We narrowly missed victory in several constituencies. This time, however, we are more confident, especially since we are now in power and we can directly showcase our government’s achievements.

What are the key strategies you are using to overcome the AIADMK's influence in this region?

Our strategy is to emphasise the administration’s achievements and make sure people are aware of the benefits they’ve received under our government.

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We believe our Chief Minister’s leadership will garner widespread support, especially when we show how much he has contributed to the state’s development.

If you had to predict, in how many constituencies do you expect to secure a win this time?

It wouldn’t be interesting if I told you right now. (laughs)

The Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi Palaniswami, called you a virus-like germ and a demon during his campaign in Coimbatore. How do you respond to such strong comments?

I believe in engaging in civilised politics. I never use harsh language against anyone, and I refrain from criticising candidates from opposing parties in public.

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My focus is on serving the people, following the government’s instructions, and uniting the people under our leadership.

What do you think of Edappadi Palaniswami’s recent remarks?

In recent days, the Leader of the Opposition has lost his composure. He has resorted to using abusive language against everyone, including our leader. This has created a very negative election environment. The fear of failure is clearly visible in his eyes. In Karur, he used to talk about me, but now he talks about me all over Tamil Nadu. It’s okay, though; this is good publicity for me.

If DMK wins more than five constituencies in the Kongu region, what can people expect in terms of development initiatives?

We will undertake special efforts to enhance the industrial sector here. Coimbatore is already one of the best in Tamil Nadu for education and healthcare, and we aim to further improve it. The people can expect even better initiatives that will boost the economy and improve their quality of life.

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