With election rules in force, official intelligence support cannot be used for party work. Still, DMK-leaning officials in the intelligence wing are said to have facilitated a late-March review of constituencies in the southern districts, marking low-probability seats with red dots on a list.
Based on those flagged seats, DMK’s election strategy outfit ‘Pen’ reportedly conducted a survey to validate the inputs. Soon after, the party is said to have deployed Sabarisan—considered a troubleshooter who is brought in only when the situation is serious—along with his close associate “London Venkat” and Pen director Manikandan.
On April 6 in Vannarappettai, Sabarisan met candidates and DMK-alliance functionaries linked to Tirunelveli and Ambasamudram. In Tirunelveli, he reportedly assessed that votes from a key community would be difficult to secure as both major rivals belong to it, and warned that higher spending and consolidation of other community votes would be necessary. He also flagged local resentment in 13 wards of the Tirunelveli Corporation linked to issues attributed to the DMK mayor.
In Ambasamudram, he is said to have cautioned about the rival candidate’s willingness to spend heavily and noted that certain town panchayats were not favourable to the alliance despite rural areas being supportive. He reportedly advised targeted spending to improve prospects among specific voter blocs.
Later the same day, Sabarisan held talks at the DMK’s Tenkasi South district office, visited Keezhapavoor after learning it was not favourable, and asked for a list of AIADMK functionaries who could be brought over and how to win them. On April 7, he met DMK functionaries in Kanyakumari district and reportedly sought to calm anger over seat-sharing with Congress, promising to work for more DMK seats in the next election if the party wins the two constituencies it is contesting there.
