Both leaders have been renominated from their existing strongholds in Chennai — Stalin from Kolathur and Udhayanidhi from Chepauk-Triplicane — as the party largely retained its sitting ministers, MLAs and senior leaders.
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Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, DMK president Stalin confirmed his candidature, signalling continuity at the top as the party seeks another term.
Among key names retained are senior ministers including Durai Murugan, K. N. Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Thangam Thennarasu, Ma Subramanian and E. V. Velu.
In a notable political shift, former AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam, who recently joined the DMK, has been fielded from Bodinayakkanur — the seat he represented in the outgoing Assembly before resigning. Two of his associates, Paul Manoj Pandian and R Vaithilingam, who had also joined the DMK earlier, have been given tickets.
Former minister V. Senthil Balaji will contest from Coimbatore South.Earlier in the day, the DMK finalised seat-sharing arrangements with its allies under the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). The party will contest 164 seats, while 11 candidates from alliance partners will run on the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
The Indian National Congress, the principal ally, will contest 28 seats including Ponneri, Erode East, Vilavankode, Sivakasi and Karaikudi. The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by Premalatha Vijayakanth, has been allotted 10 seats such as Vriddhachalam and Pallavaram.
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The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by Thol Thirumavalavan, will contest eight seats including Kattumannarkoil, Panrutti and Tindivanam. The Left parties — Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India — have been allocated five seats each, with constituencies such as Padmanabhapuram, Palani, Thalli and Bhavanisagar (SC).
Other allies include the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), led by Vaiko, which will contest four seats, including three on the DMK’s symbol, with Madurai South among its allocations.
With candidate selection and alliance arithmetic now in place, the DMK has set the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle as it looks to retain power in Tamil Nadu.
