CHENNAI: DMK and AIADMK face each other in 122 constituencies, including 12 of the 16 in the state capital, in the April 23 assembly election. In the western belt, the two Dravidian majors lock horns in 37 of the 57 constituencies, including eight of 11 in Salem and six of 10 in Coimbatore district. AIADMK had swept all 10 seats, including one seat by its ally BJP, in Coimbatore in the previous election, and the region is considered its bastion. However, the DMK has sharpened its focus on the western belt, aiming to breach the AIADMK stronghold that accounted for 33 of its MLAs in 2021.
Beyond the direct contests in Coimbatore, the shift of V Senthil Balaji from Aravakurichi in Karur district to Coimbatore South is seen as a strategic message to the AIADMK and its district strongman S P Velumani. DMK sharpens its focus on Western belt Velumani said Coimbatore remained the AIADMK’s fortress and expressed confidence of a favourable outcome. He will take on DMK’s N R Karthikeyan in Thondamuthur, while Senthil Balaji will face sitting MLA Amman K Arjunan in Coimbatore South.In the south, AIADMK’s Rajan Chellappa will take on DMK’s Krithiga Thangapandi in Thiruparankundram, which recently witnessed tension over the Dheepam row. Though there was a push from the BJP for the seat, the AIADMK retained it.In Bodinayakanur AIADMK’s V T Narayanan will take on three-time chief minister O Panneerselvam who recently joined the DMK after trying in vain to reverse his expulsion from the AIADMK. His associates R Vaithilingam and Manoj Pandian too will face AIADMK candidates in Orathanadu and Alangulam respectively.
