Tamil Nadu polls: In 21 constituencies without rising sun or two leaves, can TVK, NTK slip through?

CHENNAI: In a closely contested election, a total of 21 constituencies in Tamil Nadu will go to polls without the DMK’s rising sun or the AIADMK’s two leaves symbol on the ballot.

In these seats, candidates of alliance partners of DMK and AIADMK will contest against each other on their own symbols. The increase from 11 such seats in 2021 reflects the growing role of smaller parties in alliance arithmetic and gives parties such as TVK and NTK an opening to improve their electoral performance.

“Both parties have factored in vote transfers from smaller parties. DMK leader MK Stalin has brought over 20 parties into his alliance after assessing that partners can contribute between 5,000 and 20,000 votes in a constituency,”psephologist R Chandrasekaran said. This has resulted in a higher seat share for allies, with several parties opting to contest on their own symbols.

“The entry of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has altered calculations for both DMK and AIADMK-led alliances as victory margins are expected to be smaller compared with previous elections,” he said.

From the perspective of TVK and NTK, these constituencies offer openings. “Any day, not having a rising sun or two leaves in the contest is a relief for third or fourth fronts. However, they still have to work hard as some of these 21 seats are strongholds of alliance partners,” said V Bharathi, a political analyst who has worked in war rooms of national parties.

For instance, Thalli has been a CPI stronghold, with the party winning the seat three times and retaining it. Virudhachalam is a constituency where Vijayakant’s DMDK won in 2006 and 2011, and his wife Premallatha is returning to contest there after a gap of 15 years.

In Kattumannarkoil, a VCK stronghold, the party’s leader Thol Thirumavalavan is in the fray. Additionally, of the 21 constituencies, nine are currently held by Congress MLAs.

“Alliance candidates are backed by local leaders with an established voter base in these seats. To compete, TVK and NTK will need to field candidates with comparable local presence and influence,” said Bharathi.