Chennai, April 2 (NationPress) As the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approach on May 23, political dynamics in the state are heating up, paving the way for a competitive showdown among the DMK-led coalition, AIADMK-led faction, TVK, and Naam Tamilar Katchi. With parties ramping up their campaign activities and confirming candidates, critical constituencies such as Chepauk–Triplicane have taken center stage. In a notable development on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was declared the DMK's candidate for Chepauk–Triplicane.

The DMK is contesting 164 seats directly, while designating approximately 70 seats for its allies, thus maintaining a presence in 175 constituencies under its iconic ‘Rising Sun’ emblem.

Previously, Chief Minister and DMK President, M.K. Stalin, had unveiled the party’s candidate roster, reiterating Udhayanidhi Stalin as the representative for Chepauk–Triplicane for another term.

Udhayanidhi Stalin officially submitted his nomination on Thursday at his campaign headquarters located in Chepauk. This constituency, recognized as the 19th Assembly segment in Tamil Nadu, is historically significant and politically pivotal within Chennai.

Established during the 2008 delimitation by merging the former Chepauk and Triplicane constituencies, this seat includes notable sites like the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, University of Madras, Parthasarathy Temple, prominent mosques, historical residences, and vibrant marketplaces such as the Chintadripet fish market and Pudupet auto spare parts area.

According to the electoral rolls published on February 23, Chepauk–Triplicane has 1,63,086 registered voters, consisting of 79,412 males, 84,396 females, and 583 individuals identifying as third-gender.

This constituency has historically been a stronghold for the DMK. Party leader Rahman Khan achieved three consecutive victories in 1977, 1980, and 1984.

While the Congress briefly held the seat in 1991 with candidate Zeenath Sheriffuddin, the DMK reclaimed its dominance with M. Karunanidhi winning in 1996, 2001, and 2006. Subsequently, J. Anbazhagan secured the seat for the party in 2011 and 2016.

During the 2021 Assembly elections, Udhayanidhi Stalin made his debut from this constituency, winning decisively with 93,285 votes.

In the upcoming elections, he is set to face challenges from AIADMK’s Rajaram, Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Ayesha Begum, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s T. Selvam, ensuring that Chepauk–Triplicane remains a closely watched electoral battleground despite its historical DMK affiliations.

aal/rad