Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday, is only the second leader from Salem district to assume this coveted post since Independence.
Late C. Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, was the only other leader from Salem district to adorn the throne of Chief Ministership of the state in the Independent India.
Immediately after Independence, Congress leader Kumaraswamy Raja served as Chief Minister of Madras Presidency for two years (April 1949 to April 1952) till the first general elections were held in the country.
In the general elections, the Congress could not win a majority. Though late Kamaraj did not favour a minority government in the State, he bowed to the pressure of senior leaders. He was of the firm belief that veteran like Rajaji alone will be able to steer a minority government successfully. Rajaji later became an MLC and third Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, which the state was known as then.
Rajaji quit the post following dissent within the Congress for his ‘kula kalvi thittam’. Rajaji remained in power for two years (April 1952 to April 1954). Kamaraj succeeded Rajaji and steered Congress to victory in the 1957 and 1962 elections. Since then no political leader from Salem district could climb to the top in the state hierarchy. Salem district had to wait for more than six decades to get another leader hailing from here to become the head of the state.
However leaders such as M. Karunanidhi, M. G. Ramachandran, V. N. Janaki and Jayalalithaa, who had served as Chief Minister of the state on different occasions, had close contacts with Salem district due to their connection to the cinema field and the presence of many famous film production companies such as Modern Theatres in Salem city.
During the British regime, P. Subbarayan and Rajaji served as Chief Ministers of Madras Presidency. Late Subbarayan, a renowned freedom fighter, diplomat, Union Minister, was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from 1926-30. Subbarayan was the father of former Union Minister late Mohan Kumaramangalam.
Rajaji was the Premier of Madras Presidency for two years from 1937-39. Palaniswami hailing from Siluvampalayam village in Nedugulam panchayat in Salem district, entered active politics in the 1980s and his rise to the top position was meteoric.
Palaniswami won from the rural Edappadi Assembly constituency in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 elections, suffering defeat in 2006 elections. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the now defunct Tiruchengode constituency in 1998 general elections.
