The DMK has begun preparations for by-elections to five vacant Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, with party president M.K. Stalin chairing a strategy meeting at the party headquarters on October 24.
According to reports, the meeting reviewed constituency-wise campaign work and discussed candidate selection. The party also named in-charges for key seats: K.N. Nehru for Tiruchi East, Pudukottai North district secretary K.K. Sellapandiyan for Viralimalai, former minister Senthil Balaji for Karur, and Tirunelveli West district secretary Avudaiyappan for Ambasamudram.
With the DMK having finished second in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls, Stalin is said to have directed that groundwork for the next five contests begin early. The party is also looking to strengthen coordination among district secretaries and district-level in-charges once the election schedule is announced.
Reports further said the in-charges have suggested names for candidates, including Anbil Mahesh for Tiruchi East, Ashokkumar for Karur, M.M. Abdullah for Viralimalai, Ravindranath for Ambasamudram and Muthusamy for Perundurai.
However, the arrest of former minister Mahesh is being viewed as a setback for the DMK. The report also claimed that TVK is planning to press for action in cases involving former DMK ministers, with the aim of curbing the party’s pace ahead of the bypolls.
