Chennai: There are clear signs of an electoral churn in Tamil Nadu’s two biggest urban hubs — Chennai and Coimbatore. Seats in Chennai, once seen as a comfortable terrain for DMK, have turned competitive, while in Coimbatore, long considered an AIADMK bastion, the ruling party is mounting a serious challenge in some segments.DMK won all 16 seats in Chennai in 2021, and AIADMK front swept Coimbatore’s 10 seats. Both the parties may not be able to repeat the feat, say political observers.In Chennai, DMK is facing stiff resistance at Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, T Nagar and Perambur, while ally Congress is encountering a similar test in Velachery. Ground reports from Egmore, R K Nagar and Royapuram too suggest that the electoral scene has turned tougher than anticipated for DMK.The shift is most visible in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, where AIADMK front has fielded Porkodi Armstrong, widow of slain BSP leader K Armstrong. The opposition is attempting to convert sympathy and anger over his murder into an electoral issue, and this strategy appears to be gaining traction. Though Porkodi is new to electoral politics and not from AIADMK’s ranks, the seat has emerged as one of DMK’s toughest battles. “We are campaigning on our track record, while the opposition is relying on sympathy. But their approach will not work,” said DMK candidate K S Ravichandran.T Nagar is another segment where AIADMK’s choice of candidate and the campaign has turned the election into a tight contest. AIADMK’s B Sathyanarayanan has emerged as a strong challenger to DMK’s Raja Anbazhagan. While DMK faces resistance from AIADMK in these two seats, it is facing uncertainty in Perambur after the entry of actor-politician Vijay’s TVK. Though DMK sitting MLA and candidate R D Sekar is seen as a strong contender, Vijay’s political plunge has transformed what was once considered a safe seat into a three-cornered fight. Tambaram, falling in Chengalpet district, is another seat DMK considers tough this time. The changing dynamics appear to have pushed DMK to intensify its campaign. Chief minister M K Stalin released a Chennai-specific manifesto on Sunday and followed it up with a roadshow in the city in the evening.In contrast, AIADMK seems to be conceding ground in Coimbatore, where the election has become an S P Velumani vs Senthilbalaji battle. AIADMK–BJP front is now facing challenges in at least three constituencies — Coimbatore South, Coimbatore North and Kinathukadavu. In Coimbatore South, Senthilbalaji is in the fray, giving AIADMK’s Amma Arjunan a tough time on the campaign battleground.In Coimbatore North, BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan is up against DMK’s Senthamizhselvan. The seat was narrowly lost by DMK in 2021 by around 4,000 votes. “This time, the people of Coimbatore North have made up their mind to back us,” said Senthamizhselvan.
