The AIADMK has mounted an unusually intense campaign in the Cauvery delta districts of Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam, reading the electoral terrain as more favourable than the 2021 verdict might suggest. Contesting directly in four of the six Assembly segments across the two districts — while ceding the remaining two to its NDA allies — the party is banking on a combination of a good vote base, perceived anti-incumbency, and micro-level mobilisation to tilt the scales in its favour.
In 2021, the AIADMK in four seats in these districts and won only in Vedaranyam. However, party strategists point to the narrow margins of defeat in the remaining constituencies as evidence that its core support remains intact. The inference within the party is that even a marginal swing could alter outcomes in at least a few segments this time.
At the heart of its campaign narrative is the allegation that the DMK government had failed to deliver significant infrastructure in the region over the past five years — a line the AIADMK believes was resonating, particularly in rural and coastal belts.
S. Pownraj, Mayiladuthurai district secretary, two-time MLA, and the party’s candidate from Poompuhar, is confident that the “ground looks bright”. He pointed to the party fielding M. Sathi, a former MLA, in Sirkazhi, recalling her development record. At the same time, he acknowledged that the DMK’s decision to allocate Sirkazhi to the MDMK — contesting on the Rising Sun symbol — could lend the alliance a structural advantage.
Yet, the AIADMK sees openings. The initial ambiguity over the MDMK’s choice of symbol in Sirkazhi is viewed by party functionaries as having blunted early campaign momentum. In contrast, AIADMK candidates have been on the ground for months, building booth-level connections.
A key addition to the party’s social coalition is P. Kaliyammal, who polled 14,823 votes as a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate in 2021 and has since joined the AIADMK. Her induction is expected to consolidate support among fishing communities in both Poompuhar and Sirkazhi — constituencies where the party traditionally claims an edge.
Electorally, Poompuhar remains a competitive seat. Created in 1977, it has seen the AIADMK win six of eleven elections. In 2021, Mr. Pownraj lost by 3,299 votes, securing 92,803 votes. In Sirkazhi (SC), the party’s 2021 candidate P.V. Bharathi lost by 12,148 votes, polling 81,909 votes — a deficit the party believes is bridgeable.
In Nagapattinam district, Vedaranyam remains the AIADMK’s strongest foothold. Former Minister O.S. Manian, a two-time MLA, had won the seat in 2021 by 12,329 votes. Known for his sustained engagement with both fishing and rural communities, Mr. Manian has reportedly begun booth-level consolidation exercises months in advance, focusing on reactivating “missing voters” within the party’s traditional base.
His efforts have been complemented by outreach to community leaders, including securing the support of G.M. Sridhar Vandayar of the Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday — seen as a move to retain caste-aligned vote banks, particularly as the DMK has fielded a candidate from the same community.
Despite this, the contest is not without complications. The Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate A. Kingsley Gerald, formerly of the AMMK, is expected to cut into the AIADMK’s vote share. Similarly, NTK’s first time fielded Idumbavanam Karthick — a locally rooted party’s star speaker — could improve upon the party’s 2021 tally of 9,106 votes, potentially affecting margins.
In Nagapattinam constituency, AIADMK’s Thanga Kathiravan, who lost by 7,238 votes in 2021 with 59,043 votes, is once again in the fray. The party is attempting to leverage the “outsider” tag against the DMK’s ally candidate from the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, while projecting Kathiravan’s local connect.
However, candidate selection has triggered unease. Sections of the fishing community expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of community representation in candidate choices in both districts. The sidelining of former Minister K.A. Jayapal in Nagapattinam has added to the discontent. The entry of TVK’s district secretary Sukumar — also from the fishing community — could further fragment this vote.
At the alliance level, the AIADMK is counting on the BJP’s organisational growth in rural areas over the past five years. Yet, ground reports suggest a pragmatic, if uneasy, arrangement: AIADMK leaders are said to be campaigning independently in Muslim-majority areas, often leaving BJP cadres out of such engagements.
“The BJP understands the sensitivities,” an AIADMK candidate said and noted that independent outreach to local jamaths has elicited positive responses.
Internal discontent within the two DMK’s district units is being quietly factored into AIADMK’s calculations.
Ultimately, while four constituencies appear competitive on paper, party insiders concede the decisive variable may lie with smaller players. The extent to which TVK and NTK candidates cut into the AIADMK’s vote base could determine whether the party converts its perceived momentum into actual gains.
Published – April 05, 2026 10:09 pm IST
