MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi join family to vote in Chennai as DMK faces tough battle from AIADMK and TVK

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin came out to vote on Thursday in Chennai, joined by his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with other family members.

After casting his vote, MK Stalin spoke briefly but firmly, saying that just like he exercised his right, every citizen must also come forward and complete their democratic responsibility. He stressed that voting is not just a right but an important duty that strengthens democracy.

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Kolathur turns into a fierce political battleground for MK Stalin

While MK Stalin seeks another term in office, he is also contesting from his stronghold Kolathur Assembly constituency, which has now become a high-pressure electoral arena. This time, the fight is not simple, as multiple parties are challenging him in a crowded contest.

His main opponents include VS Babu from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), P Santhana Krishnan from AIADMK, and Soundara Pandian Louther Seth from NTK. The presence of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK has added extra excitement, as the party tries to pull away traditional vote bases, while AIADMK is working hard to regain lost ground.

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Despite the tough competition, Stalin’s past performance in the constituency remains very strong. In the 2021 Assembly elections, he won a massive 1,05,522 votes, securing 61.4% of the total votes. He defeated AIADMK’s Aadi Rajaram by a huge margin of 70,384 votes. That election saw a voter turnout of 64.63% out of 2,68,296 registered voters.

Statewide polling begins

Across Tamil Nadu, voting for the Assembly elections began on Thursday in all 234 constituencies. Polling started under tight security arrangements and will continue until 6:00 pm on the same day.

At the same time, Phase 1 of polling is also being held in West Bengal, where elections will take place in two phases, with the second round scheduled for April 29. The counting of votes will happen on May 4.

In Tamil Nadu, the political fight is mainly between two major alliances. On one side is the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK, and VCK. On the other side is the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, supported by BJP and PMK. While DMK is banking on its welfare schemes and governance record, the NDA is hoping for a strong comeback.

Adding a new twist to the election is actor Vijay, who is making his political debut through his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).