DMK Unveils 164-Candidate Slate; Panneerselvam to Contest Bodinayakanur
DMK Unveils 164-Candidate Slate; Panneerselvam to Contest Bodinayakanur
DMK releases its 164-candidate list for Tamil Nadu elections, highlighting O. Panneerselvam in Bodinayakanur and V. Senthilbalaji’s shift to Coimbatore South.
The DMK on Saturday announced its 164-strong list of candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, signaling a blend of veteran leadership and new faces. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will again contest from Kolathur, a seat he has held since its creation after delimitation, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will fight from Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni, continuing the family’s strong urban foothold in the city. The party also confirmed that Stalin’s position in Kolathur marks his fourth attempt at the seat since 2011, underscoring continuity in a high-stakes campaign.
The list, however, also reveals strategic shifts and exclusions that signal careful internal balancing. Notably, senior DMK leaders Ponmudi, R. Gandhi, Mano Thangaraj, and Kayalvizhi Selvaraj were not allotted seats this time, while Karthik Mohan, son of DMK MLA M.K. Mohan, is set to contest from Villivakkam. He is likely to face Aadhav Arjuna, a former close associate turned rival from the Tamilaga Vettori Kazhagam (TVK). A. Vetriazhagan, grandson of the late K. Anbazhagan, will defend Villivakkam after winning there in 2021, and N. Chitrarasu will contest from Anna Nagar, maintaining a DMK presence in key urban constituencies.
In a notable development, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is set to contest from Bodinayakanur, signaling a high-profile move to a constituency in the hilly Theni district belt. V. Senthilbalaji, previously seen contesting from Karur, has shifted to Coimbatore South where he will face AIADMK’s Amman Arjunan in a direct contest. The list also mentions Tamilan Prasanna as the party’s nominee from the Egmore constituency, a high-visibility urban seat that often draws media attention during campaigns. As the party rolls out its lineup, the focus will be on how the new placements balance veteran credibility with rising faces across Tamil Nadu.
