Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin is set to inaugurate the election campaign for the I.N.D.I.A. bloc from Friday, marking the beginning of a high-octane political fight leading up to the polls. The inaugural event, spearheaded by DMK leader and state Minister K.N. Nehru, will commence from Siruganur in Trichy, with Chief Minister Stalin, MDMK leader Vaiko, and a host of senior leaders from the I.N.D.I.A. bloc slated to address the gathering.
Notably, Vaiko's son and senior MDMK leader Durai Vaiko is contesting from Trichy under the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.
Minister Nehru, entrusted with overseeing the preparations for the event, talking to IANS emphasised the significance of Trichy as a symbolic starting point for the election campaign. Despite being rooted in Periyar's atheistic ideology, the DMK has chosen Trichy, famously dubbed 'Thiruppumunai Trichy' (turning point Trichy) by Karunanidhi, for its election voyage, evoking a sense of nostalgia among party members.
All the more, Chief Minister Stalin's itinerary includes visits to all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies across the state to introduce the I.N.D.I.A bloc candidates, representing a diverse coalition comprising the DMK, Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK, IUML, and KMDK. The DMK is set to compete for 21 seats, allocating 9 seats to the Congress, and 2 seats each to VCK, CPI(M), and CPI. Furthermore, one seat each was designated to MDMK, IUML, and KMDK.
Earlier, addressing party cadres and local leaders, the Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to grassroots mobilization efforts, aiming for a comprehensive triumph for all I.N.D.I.A. bloc candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Meanwhile, DMK released its candidate list and manifesto on Wednesday.