Stalin holds edge, but dark horse Vijay keeps rivals guessing

EdappadiThis seat in Salem district has long been the home turf of ADMK general secretary EPS. He has won five of the eight poll battles that he has fought here, including three in a row since 2011. Backed by his community, the gounders, Palaniswami would be feeling confident about his chances here despite the challenge from DMK and colleagues-turned-foes such as O Panneerselvam and V K Sasikala.Past Winners : 2011, 2016, 2021 (ADMK)LalgudiLeema Rose Martin, wife of lottery baron Santiago Martin and the richest candidate in these polls — she’s declared assets worth more than Rs 1,000 crore — is in the fray here. She joined ADMK only in Feb, but has the ADMK rank and file working overtime to ensure her victory. DMK, which has won this seat eight times since 1971, has fielded a low-profile candidate to replace sitting MLA Soundarapandian.Past Winners: 2011, 2016, 2021 (DMK)KolathurKolathur in Chennai has been represented by CM MK Stalin since it was formed in 2011. In 2021, he defeated his ADMK rival by a margin of more than 70,000 votes. DMK would be banking on Stalin’s accessibility, governance record, and the party’s organisational strength to maintain its winning run here. The opposition has highlighted local issues and governance shortcomings.Past Winners: 2011, 2016, 2021 (DMK )Madurai CentralIT minister Palanivel Thiagarajan is seeking a hat-trick of wins here. But he faces a fight, as ADMK’s backing ally Puthiya Neethi Katchi (PNK)’s Sundar C. The actor-director’s wife, Khushbu, herself an actor, has added a touch of glamour to his campaign. TVK’s VMS Mustafa and NTK’s K Abdul Hakkim could split the minority votes, which might hurt DMK.Past Winners: 2011 (DMDK); 2016, 2021 (DMK)PeramburThis seat in north Chennai is where actor Joseph Vijay is making his poll debut. With a large working-class population, it was a Left bastion before turning into a DMK stronghold in recent years. Incumbent Sekar won by a margin of more than 54,000 votes in 2021. Vijay chose the seat because 40,000 voters signed up on the TVP app and he hopes to win over Dalits and minorities.Past Winners: 2011 (CPM); 2016 (ADMK); 2021 (DMK)Chepauk– TriplicaneThis Chennai seat has been with DMK since 2011. Deputy CM and CM MK Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, won here by more than 69,000 votes in his first election in 2021. It has a sizeable number of Muslim voters who can shape the outcome. DMK’s focused on its welfare measures while the opposition spoke of local grievances such as parking issues, narrow roads, etc.Past Winners: 2011, 2016, 2021 (DMK) Go to Source