Palaniswami was born in an ordinary farming family in Salem district. He joined AIADMK during MGR’s time. After MGR’s death, AIADMK split into Janaki’s team and Jayalalithaa’s team, EPS joined Jayalalithaa’s team. In the 1989 Legislative Assembly elections, Jayalalithaa contested on the Rooster symbol and went to the Legislative Assembly as an MLA for the first time. He also became a confidant of Jayalalithaa.
Because of this, EPS was stopped in Tiruchengode Lok Sabha constituency in 1998 and M.P. Made by Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa continued to give him opportunities in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections that followed. But he could not get a chance to win. However, Veerapandi, who had strong influence in the DMK in Salem district, bravely faced Arumuga. Through this, he continued to be worthy of Jayalalitha’s trust. At one point, the AIADMK captured most of the constituencies in the Kongu region and won Jayalalitha’s praise.
As a result, when the AIADMK was in power in the last 2011 and 2016 assembly elections, Jayalalithaa made EPS a minister and gave important departments like public works and highways. Under his regime, cabinet reshuffling, devolution of departments etc. were commonplace. But EPS was one of the few ministers who survived.
After Jayalalitha’s death, Sasikala was scheduled to take over as Chief Minister in 2017, but she had to go to jail in a case of asset embezzlement. Panneerselvam had started Dharmayutham against Sasikala at that time. So Sasikala planned to appoint a new person as the interim Chief Minister. Considered senior ministers like Sengottaiyan. Finally, with the blessings of Sasikala, EPS got the opportunity to become the Chief Minister.
At one point, he bravely stood up to Sasikala. This initially caused shock among AIADMK members. Later most of the party stood in favor of EPS. Even as no-confidence motions were brought to topple the government, he faced all of them and completed the four-and-a-half-year AIADMK rule in collaboration with the OPS.
When the Chief Ministerial candidate controversy arose in the 2021 Legislative Assembly elections, the OPS announced ‘Chief Ministerial Candidate EPS’. Later he defeated him and got the post of Leader of the Opposition.
After that, AIADMK had to field 2 candidates for Rajya Sabha member elections last year. There was a delay in choosing the candidate for this as the two could not reach an agreement. Having decided that the party can function better only if it is under a single leadership, EPS has gone through various legal battles and has now brought the AIADMK completely under its single leadership through the Supreme Court ruling regarding the General Assembly.
The AIADMK could not get significant success in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the rural local body elections, the 2021 legislative assembly elections, and the 2022 urban local body elections. The party officials are accusing the dual leadership as a reason. As the party is currently under a single leadership, the party’s senior executives are confident that the AIADMK will win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections.