Campaigning Concludes for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections
NEW DELHI: The campaign for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections has concluded ahead of the single-phase voting scheduled for Thursday across all 234 assembly constituencies. This election is anticipated to be a direct competition between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, primarily represented by the AIADMK.
In this political landscape, the Congress party aligns with the DMK, while the BJP supports the AIADMK, which is the DMK’s main rival. Additionally, the newly established Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by popular actor Vijay, aims to capture the youth vote.
Over 4,000 candidates are contesting, including several prominent figures. The counting of votes is slated for May 4.
Key Candidates:
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MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK): The incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin is running from Kolathur, a position he has held since 2011. His son, Udhayanidhi, is contesting from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, a seat he won in the 2021 elections.
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Vijay (TVK): The actor-politician is leading TVK and is contesting from two constituencies, Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. TVK, launched in February 2024, has fielded candidates across all 234 seats.
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Edappadi K. Palaniswami (AIADMK): The AIADMK general secretary and the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate is contesting from Edappadi, his home constituency, which he has represented since 2011.
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O. Panneerselvam (DMK): Formerly a key supporter of AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam has shifted allegiance to the DMK. He is contesting from Bodinayakkanur, a constituency he has previously won in three consecutive elections.
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Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP): The senior BJP leader and former governor of Telangana is contesting from the Mylapore constituency. Previously, she served as the party’s Tamil Nadu unit president and as Puducherry’s lieutenant governor.
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Nainar Nagendran (BJP): The BJP’s state unit chief is running from Sattur after moving from Tirunelveli, where he was elected in the 2021 elections.
