If sources are to be believed, Stalin may have decided against contesting in Tiruvarur, withstanding personal temptation and pressure from a couple of party seniors. The decision was learnt to have been influenced by a few seniors and well-wishers who advised against taking an unnecessary risk ahead of the Parliamentary election. 

“Indeed, Stalin had initially considered doing it himself. TR Baalu also persuaded him. Stalin’s candidature will ensure a grand success, but it is unnecessary to utilize all our resources in a by poll close to the Parliamentary election. As things stand now, our leader will not contest,” a DMK senior requesting anonymity said.

Tiruvarur district secretary of DMK ‘Poondi’ Kalaivanan confirmed reports about the alleged decision by declaring in Anna Arivalayam on Thursday afternoon that there was no chance of his leader contesting in the by poll. “We want our leader to contest. We have applied in his name, but he told us that there was no chance of him contesting,” told Kalaivanan, who has sought ticket after learning about Stalin’s decision. 

Udhayanidhi’s cameo; Surprisingly, the next talk that started doing the rounds was about a member of Stalin’s family entering the fray. Udhayanidhi Stalin’s name did the rounds on Thursday afternoon after a few of his fans filed an application in his name. However, party insiders ruled out the possibility of Stalin junior making his electoral debut, which reduced the race to three contestants apart from Kalaivanan.

Two union secretaries of Tiruvarur unit of DMK, Kaliyaperumal and Deva besides a well-known educationist cum party executive committee member, Thiyagapari of Tiruvarur were tipped to be the hot favourites to secure the coveted Tiruvarur seat vacated by the late former DMK president M Karunanidhi. A party functionary in the headquarters said the murder case Kalaivanan was embroiled in once could scuttle his chances, tipping the educationalist to be the frontrunner.