Chennai: The campaign trail in Tamil Nadu has become a masterclass in endurance, with a ‘silver guard’ of veterans in their 80s and 90s defying the 42°C heat to lead the charge towards the April 23 poll. At 87, DMK’s Duraimurugan, a 10-time winner and the undefeated ‘champion’ of Katpadi for 30 years, hits the road by 8.30am, campaigning in rural pockets till 1pm before retreating to recharge and chalk out strategy with party functionaries. As the temperature dips, he turns his focus to high-density urban wards.Duraimurugan has mastered the art of campaigning, weaving regional history and witty repartee into his speeches. He reminds voters of his efforts to bring development to the constituency: establishing Thiruvalluvar University in Serkadu, a govt law college and a hospital, while extending the ‘combined Cauvery drinking water scheme’ to the area.He never misses an opportunity to stir the crowd, poignantly declaring that when his time comes, he wishes to be cremated there, his ashes spread across Katpadi. “When he started, he appeared tired, but it’s almost as if he has been energized by the public response. He is now keeping pace with the demanding schedule,” says Duraimurugan’s aide of four decades.Equally relentless is 92-year-old K Veeramani of the Dravidar Kazhagam. On his 45th campaign cycle since 1952, he has covered more than 3,300km across 36 districts. Upholding Periyar’s social reformist policies and refraining from electoral politics, he is an active presence on the campaign trail.He kicked off his campaign on April 6 from Tirunelveli and has maintained the momentum since. He delivers 45-minute ideological speeches from atop a black customized van. “I have been observing elections since 1946. This time, what stands out is the rise of women’s participation; they comprise the majority of my audience. This is a big shift,” said Veeramani while heading to Cuddalore district for his last leg of campaigning.The energy is mirrored by MDMK’s 81-year-old Vaiko, whose high-octane speeches have seen him blitz through 25 constituencies in 12 days. He sets out by 4pm and pushes through until 10pm. His signature format involves 40-minute speeches from his vehicle, culminating in high-decibel public meetings.BJP’s M R Gandhi, also 81, has a different campaign strategy. While his mornings are spent in a vehicle covering the constituency’s fringes, he spends his evenings with a door-to-door blitz. Bolstered by BJP cadres and RSS units, Gandhi’s campaign hinges on one-on-one interaction, proving that even in a high-tech 2026 election, a personal touch counts. Almost every day, the Nagarcoil sitting MLA can be seen winding through narrow streets in an autorickshaw.. While the leaders fight for different causes, they have one thing in common: they’ve proved that in Tamil Nadu politics, age is no barrier.
