EPS, Stalin Lead List Of Big Names On The Ballot In Tamil Nadu Polls

Chief Minister Edappadi Ok Palaniswami, or EPS, will contest from Salem’s Edappadi district, the place he faces a teen – T Sampath Kumar of the DMK. A four-time MLA from right here, he’s unlikely to be shocked. The constituency has a big Vanniyar inhabitants and in February, he offered them with 10.5 per cent quota (inside the current 20 per cent) for admission to academic establishments and posts in authorities companies. Plus, the district has already seen some great benefits of being the Chief Minister’s Assembly seat.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, or OPS, will face the DMK’s Thanga Tamizh Selvan, or TTS, from Bodinayakanur in Theni district. Mr Selvan, a former AIADMK member, was handpicked by Jayalalithaa to characterize her Andipatti seat after she moved to Srirangam. OPS’ extra speedy downside, although, is votes from the Thevars, who could also be dissatisfied with him after he let management of the state cross to EPS, who hails from the Gounders. The presence of Sasikala – expelled former AIDMK chief – additionally complicates issues as a result of her supporters would possibly change to the AMMK that’s run by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran. The Vanniyar quota has additionally not amused the Thevars. So OPS was seen performing some injury management, saying the quota promise is provisional.

MK Stalin, the present Leader of the Opposition and the DMK’s chief ministerial candidate, MK Stalin is focusing on a 3rd consecutive time period from Kolathur. He faces the AIADMK’s Aadi Rajaram in a constituency that has a big middle- and lower-middle class, and Muslim inhabitants. Stalin does have the assist of the Left unions and Muslim voters and may win comfortably. However, the AIADMK has sought his disqualification and cancellation of polling right here alleging violations.

TTV Dhinakaran, the AMMK (Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam) chief secured a surprising win within the 2017 bypoll to Chennai’s RK Nagar seat; the win ended AIADMK’s 16-year domination of that constituency and, extra importantly, was additionally held by Jayalalithaa. The DMK was humiliated because the candidate misplaced his deposit. He has now set his eye on Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district. As with the OPS battle, the Thevar vote will play a key position.

Kamal Haasan has set himself a troublesome activity. Deciding in opposition to contesting from a Chennai seat (the place the long-lasting actor could have had a better experience), the MNM (Makkal Needhi Maiam) chief will tackle the BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan and Mayura Jayakumar of the Congress from Coimbatore (South). The BJP’s choose might be his massive problem – Ms Srinivasan is a well-liked native face and the celebration has some assist within the Coimbatore and Tiruppur belt. He has been known as the ‘Outsider’ as each Vanathi and Jayakumar are locals. Kamal Haasan has disdained spending cash to win however has banked on star energy – actor and niece Suhasini Maniratnam, and his daughter and actor Akshara Haasan have campaigned for him.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, who’s the son of DMK chief MK Stalin, makes his electoral debut this yr. Already a well-liked face – he too is an actor – he’s unlikely to have issues combating from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat in opposition to a PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi) candidate. Udhayanidhi’s dramatic marketing campaign techniques included carrying a brick with ‘AIIMS’ written on it – a reference to the promise of building an institute in Madurai. He additionally took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the ‘dynast’ tag that they love to make use of.

Khushbu Sundar, a vastly standard face in Tamil Nadu politics and cinema, will struggle from Chennai’s Thousand Lights on a BJP ticket. The well-known actor faces DMK’s Dr Ezhilan who’s well-respected and a well-liked physician and surroundings activist with a political background. Khushbu stop the Congress (whom she joined from the DMK) final yr after a robust letter to Sonia Gandhi, through which she stated she felt “pushed and suppressed” by individuals who had no reference to floor actuality. Part of her campaigning included stopping to make dosas at a restaurant.

LMurugan, the Tamil Nadu BJP President will struggle from Dharapuram in Tirupur district with the DMK’s Kayalvizhi Selvaraj prone to be his greatest opponent. The Vice President of the celebration’s state unit – Ok Annamalai, a former IPS officer from Karnataka – will contest Aravakurichi in Karur district in opposition to the DMK’s A Ilango.

Seeman, the NTK (Naam Tamilar Katchi) co-ordinator is an unknown identify to many however is being tipped as a doable shock bundle on this election. At the top of 1 the smaller events (they’ll nonetheless contest all 234 seats, although), he’ll struggle from Tiruvottiyur in North Chennai and has firmly positioned himself as in opposition to each the DMK and the AIADMK, each of who, he says, have left Tamil nationalism by the roadside.

Other massive names who might be on the poll on Tuesday are the BJP’s H Raja (from Karaikudi), former DMK chief Saravanan from Madurai (North), Premalatha – the spouse of actor and DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) chief Vijayakanth – from Virudhachalam, and Puthiya Tamilagam founder Ok Krishnasamy from Ottapidaram in Thoothukudi.