Palaniswami accuses Stalin government of law-and-order collapse ahead of 2026 polls

With Tamil Nadu heading toward its 2026 Assembly election , political rhetoric has intensified, with the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) launching a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over law-and-order concerns .

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged that the state under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had become a “hub of drug trafficking,” claiming widespread availability of ganja, illicit liquor sales, and growing criminal activity. In a social media post, he said media reports indicated increasing drug use even among college and school students , raising fears about the safety of youth.

Palaniswami also cited violent crimes , including sexual assaults against women and children, and alleged multiple custodial deaths in recent years, including deaths of Scheduled Caste youths. He argued that these developments had created a climate of insecurity and prompted public doubts about whether the government was protecting citizens or shielding offenders .

Calling the DMK administration “anti-people,” the AIADMK leader urged voters to remove it from power in the upcoming election.

The DMK government has consistently rejected these allegations. Senior officials maintain that crime statistics show a steady decline and accuse the opposition of exaggerating issues for political gain ahead of the polls.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, 2026 , as announced by the Election Commission of India, with the results scheduled to be declared in May after counting of votes. The contest is expected to be dominated by the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance , headed by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and including partners such as the Indian National Congress and left parties, and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led front, which is working to consolidate anti-incumbency sentiment. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeking to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu, is also expected to play a significant role, either independently or through alliances.

As campaigning gathers pace, law and order, governance, and welfare policies are set to dominate what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle.