Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami (born 12 May 1954), commonly known by his initials E.P.S., is an Indian politician who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2021. Since 28 March 2023, he has been the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Prior to this role, he held several key positions within AIADMK, including interim General Secretary (2022–23), joint co-ordinator (2017–22), and headquarters secretary (2016–22).
Born in Salem district of the former Madras State, Palaniswami began his career as an agriculturalist before entering politics in 1974. He has represented Edappadi in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly since 2011, having previously served from 1989 to 1996. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 1998 Indian general election, representing Tiruchengode in the Lok Sabha. After the 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, he was appointed Minister of Highways and Minor Ports in the Jayalalithaa cabinet, and following the 2016 assembly elections, he also served as Minister of Public Works.
Politics:
Earlier (1974-2010):
Palaniswami began his political career in 1974 by joining the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as a volunteer. His first major political success came in 1989 when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, representing the Edappadi constituency. He secured re-election from the same constituency in 1991. However, he lost his seat in the 1996 assembly elections.
In the 1998 general election, Palaniswami was elected as a Member of Parliament, representing the Tiruchengode constituency in the 12th Lok Sabha. He was unsuccessful in subsequent general elections in 1999 and 2004 from the same constituency. He also contested the Edappadi seat in the 2006 assembly elections but did not win.
In July 2006, Palaniswami was appointed as the propaganda secretary of AIADMK and later took on the role of organizing secretary in 2007.
Cabinet Minister (2011-2017)
Palaniswami was re-elected from the Edappadi constituency in the 2011 assembly elections. Following his victory, he was appointed Minister of Highways and Minor Ports in the Jayalalithaa cabinet. During this period, he also served as the district secretary of AIADMK for the Salem suburban district from June 2011 until April 2022.
In 2014, he was appointed to the AIADMK disciplinary committee. He was re-elected from Edappadi in the 2016 assembly elections, and subsequently took on the role of Minister of Public Works. Additionally, in 2016, Palaniswami was appointed as the headquarters secretary of AIADMK, succeeding P. Palaniappan.
CM of Tamil Nadu (2017-2021)
Palaniswami became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in February 2017, succeeding O. Panneerselvam, who had taken over after J. Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016. Sworn in on 16 February 2017, he led a 32-member cabinet and also managed the portfolios of home, prohibition, and excise.
In March 2017, he launched the Kudimaramaththu scheme to restore minor irrigation tanks and lakes. During his tenure, the government faced criticism when police action against protests over a Vedanta copper plant in Thoothukudi resulted in 13 deaths. The plant was subsequently closed in May 2018. In August 2019, he introduced Amma patrol vehicles to enhance the safety of women and children.
In the 2019 general election, AIADMK, under Palaniswami, won only one seat while allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Palaniswami also initiated the Yaadhum Oore programme to attract foreign investment, visiting the US, UK, and UAE for promotion. The Tamil Nadu government declared the Kaveri delta a special agriculture zone in February 2020 and, in May 2020, ordered a 7.5% reservation for public school students in medical colleges and announced plans for eleven new medical colleges.
Under his leadership, Tamil Nadu was recognized for its sustainable development in the Public Affairs Index (October 2020) and did not experience negative growth during the coronavirus pandemic. The state was also ranked as the best-performing big state from 2018 to 2021.
Leader of the Opposition (2021–Present)
After AIADMK‘s defeat in the 2021 assembly elections, Palaniswami resigned as Chief Minister on 6 May 2021. He was re-elected from Edappadi and became the Leader of the Opposition.
In June 2022, internal conflicts arose over AIADMK’s dual leadership. By July 2022, the general council abolished this model, appointing Palaniswami as interim chief and expelling O. Panneerselvam and his supporters. The Madras High Court and later the Supreme Court upheld this decision, and Palaniswami was officially made general secretary on 28 March 2023. The Election Commission recognized him in this role on 20 April 2023.
Palaniswami led AIADMK’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in Madurai on 20 August 2023 and the party officially exited the National Democratic Alliance on 25 September 2023. Following the 2023 Chennai floods, he criticized the state government’s stormwater management.
In the 2024 general election, AIADMK, under Palaniswami, formed an alliance with Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Puthiya Tamilagam, and the Social Democratic Party of India but did not win any seats.