Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Campaigning for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections has concluded ahead of Thursday’s single-phase polling across all 234 assembly constituencies.The election is largely expected to be a direct contest between the DMK-led ruling Secular Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, of which AIADMK is the largest constituent in the state. Of the two national parties, Congress is aligned with the DMK, while the BJP is in alliance with the AIADMK, the DMK’s arch-rival.Superstar Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is also in the fray and is likely to attract youth votes.
Over 4,000 candidates are in the fray, including some high-profile names.Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Major candidates:
MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK): The chief minister and his deputy chief minister son are contesting from Kolathur and Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, respectively. Stalin, a multiple-term MLA, has represented Kolathur since 2011, while Udhayanidhi is aiming to retain Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni for the DMK, having been the winning candidate in the 2021 polls.Vijay (TVK): The actor-politician is leading TVK from the front and is contesting from two constituencies, Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. The party, launched in February 2024, has fielded candidates in all 234 seats.Edappadi K Palaniswami (AIADMK): The AIADMK general secretary and the NDA’s chief ministerial face is contesting from his home turf of Edappadi. The former chief minister is seeking a fourth successive term from Edappadi, which he has held since 2011.O Panneerselvam (DMK): A one-time staunch loyalist of former chief minister and AIADMK stalwart J. Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam made a shock move to the DMK ahead of the polls. The Stalin-led party has fielded the former chief minister from his stronghold Bodinayakkanur, which he won in three successive elections—2011, 2016 and 2021—for the AIADMK.Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP): A senior BJP leader and former Telangana governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan is contesting from the Mylapore constituency. A former president of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit, she also previously served as Puducherry’s lieutenant governor.Nainar Nagendran (BJP): The BJP’s state unit chief is contesting from Sattur, shifting from the Tirunelveli constituency, which he won in the 2021 elections.
