Vijay's Electoral Strategy: Dual Seat Decision Pending DMK Candidate Announcement
TVK president Vijay is poised to make a final decision on contesting in Trichy East, in addition to Perambur, once the DMK releases its official candidate list, according to sources within the TVK party. This move follows extensive internal surveys that have identified Perambur as his primary constituency and Trichy East as a secondary option, largely due to the latter segment's significant minority population.
Strategic Considerations and Alliance Dynamics
While an election office is already being established in Perambur, preparatory efforts in Trichy East have seen a recent slowdown. TVK insiders reveal that the ultimate choice will depend heavily on seat-sharing negotiations within the DMK alliance. A senior functionary explained, "If AIADMK has conceded Perambur to PMK, and DMK also allocates it to another party, winning becomes more feasible for Vijay there. This reduces the necessity for a dual-seat contest." Additionally, the plan may be abandoned if DMK selects a formidable candidate for Trichy East, in which case TVK has shortlisted alternative contenders such as Sahayaraj and Gerold Milton.
Campaign Activities and Political Developments
In Perambur, TVK members are actively engaging in street-corner meetings and door-to-door campaigns to bolster support. Conversely, DMK sources indicate a strong intent to field their own candidate in Perambur, with 13 aspirants, including incumbent MLA R D Sekhar, participating in candidate interviews. A local DMK leader stated, "While opinions varied on the ideal candidate, there was unanimous agreement that the seat should remain with our party." In Trichy East, DMK is likely to renominate sitting MLA Inigo Iruthayaraj if Vijay decides to contest.
Upcoming Events and Party Expansions
Vijay is scheduled to release an initial list of approximately 120 candidates at an event in a Nungambakkam hotel on Friday, with a potential postponement to Sunday in case of unforeseen issues. He will resume campaigning on Saturday, holding brief meetings at key locations including MKB Nagar Bus Depot, Senthil Nagar in Kolathur, ICF signal in Villivakkam, Anna Nagar roundtana, and near Koyambedu bridge in Virugambakkam. In a related development, around 100 Congress functionaries, led by recently sacked TNCC general secretary D Selvam, joined TVK on Thursday, marking a significant shift in local political alignments.
