Chennai, Apr 2:
Deputy Chief Minister and DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin formally entered the race for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by filing his nomination papers from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency on Thursday, seeking a second consecutive term in the state legislature.
The 48-year-old scion of the DMK made a grand entry, following a massive roadshow that saw thousands of party cadres and supporters lining the streets in a show of solidarity and enthusiasm.
Accompanied by senior DMK leaders and local functionaries, Udhayanidhi submitted his documents to the Returning Officer shortly before noon.
Speaking to the media afterward, he exuded confidence in the party’s “Dravidian Model” of governance and emphasized the transformative work carried out by the DMK government under his father, Chief Minister M K Stalin, over the past five years.
“Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is my home, and the overwhelming support today shows that our victory will be a foregone conclusion. Women especially are very happy with the initiatives taken in the last five years,” he said, signaling his commitment to grassroots campaigning, which he said would continue in the constituency throughout the day.
Udhayanidhi also framed the 2026 polls as a contest to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s self-respect and rights, voicing opposition to the “imposition” of central policies. His campaign underscores the DMK’s strategy of highlighting state-specific development achievements while positioning the party as a protector of regional autonomy.
The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency holds historical and symbolic significance for the DMK, having once been represented by the late M Karunanidhi, the party’s iconic leader. The seat is considered a stronghold of the DMK, but the upcoming election is expected to attract attention from rival parties, including the AIADMK-led NDA and the newly formed TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay.
Thursday’s nomination filing follows Chief Minister M K Stalin’s nomination from Kolathur earlier this week, marking the official start of the DMK-led alliance’s election campaign. The single-phase Tamil Nadu Assembly election, comprising 234 seats, is scheduled for April 23, 2026, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown across the state.
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s campaign will be closely watched, as the young leader combines his political lineage with active grassroots engagement, seeking to maintain the party’s dominance in a seat rich with DMK legacy and historical significance.