SALEM: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has opted for a mix of continuity and change in Salem for the 2026 Assembly elections, retaining only four of its eight sitting MLAs, a 50% reshuffle, retaining four of its eight sitting MLAs while introducing new faces in the remaining constituencies.
Among sitting MLAs from the 2021 elections, only those from Edappadi, Omalur, Gangavalli (SC) and Attur (SC) have been renominated.
Party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami will contest again from Edappadi, while R Mani from Omalur, A Nallathambi from Gangavalli and AP Jayasankaran from Attur have also been retained. The remaining constituencies have seen a change in candidates.
The AIADMK has recorded consecutive wins since 2011 in constituencies such as Yercaud (ST), Sankagiri and Veerapandi, where new candidates have now been fielded.
In Yercaud (ST), sitting MLA G Chitra, who won in 2016 and 2021, has been replaced by P Usharani. She currently serves as the district deputy secretary of the women's wing of AIADMK's Salem suburban district.
In Sankagiri, sitting MLA S Sundararajan has been replaced by S Vetrivel, who was elected as MLA from Omalur in 2016 and currently serves as deputy secretary of 'Amma Peravai'.
In Veerapandi, sitting MLA M Rajamuthu has been replaced by S Sribalaji Sugumar (31), making him the youngest among all candidates in Salem district. He serves as the union secretary of 'Jayalalithaa Peravai' in Panamarathupatti West union of AIADMK.
In Salem South, the only constituency under Salem corporation limits being contested by the AIADMK, sitting MLA E Balasubramanian has been replaced by J Vinoth, who is the district handloom wing secretary of AIADMK's Salem suburban district.
The party has also taken back the Mettur constituency, which was allotted to PMK in the previous election. This time, AIADMK has fielded G Venkatachalam, who has served as MLA from Salem West in 2011 and 2016 since the constituency's formation, and currently serves as deputy secretary of the propaganda wing.
Of the three constituencies under Salem corporation limits, Salem West and Salem North constituency seats have been allotted to alliance partner PMK, while AIADMK is contesting only in Salem South constituency.