TN assembly polls: Ruling DMK and Opposition AIADMK face off in 121 seats

Traditional rivals, the ruling DMK and the principal opposition AIADMK, are engaged in a direct contest in 121 seats in the April 23 election to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The constituencies where both the Dravidian majors are fighting each other include Kolathur in Chennai where the Chief Minister and DMK president is seeking re-election for the fourth time. He had won the seat three times consecutively since 2011. The AIADMK had fielded P Santhanakrishnan to take on Stalin. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) is contesting from his home turf, Edappadi in Salem district, where he is facing a greenhorn, Kasi, from the DMK. EPS too has returned to the assembly thrice consecutively since 2011.

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These 121 seats will play a crucial role in deciding whether the DMK retains power or the AIADMK, heading the NDA, returns to the helm. Determined to break the second consecutive term jinx, the DMK under Stalin’s leadership is contesting in 164 constituencies on its own while getting some of its allies in the 23-party mega alliance to fight on the DMK’s rising sun symbol, taking its total tally to 175. On the other hand, the AIADMK is in the fray in 167 seats while having a few allies contest on its two leaves symbol in 6 seats. This includes A Porkodi, wife of slain state BSP president K Armstrong, fielded from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar in Chennai.

Besides EPS, 19 AIADMK heavyweights are engaged in a direct fight with the DMK while the party has earmarked to its allies constituencies where DMK ministers are in the fray. For instance, filmmaker Sundar C, who is the husband of actor and BJP leader Kushbu, has entered the ring against DMK minister Palanivel Thiyagarajan from Madurai central. A candidate of the New Justice Party, a constituent of the NDA, he is fighting on the AIADMK’s two leaves symbol.