Candidates fan out across Chennai as campaign gathers pace

Candidates intensify campaigning across Chennai, highlighting achievements and promises as the election approaches.

Stepping up the DMK’s election campaign in Chennai for the second consecutive day, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday canvassed for votes in various parts of the city, foregrounding the DMK-led government’s welfare record and development projects in the respective constituencies.

Starting his campaign in Ponneri constituency, Tiruvallur district, in support of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Durai Chandrasekar, Mr. Udhayanidhi said the DMK government had reached out to the people through its achievements. “We are coming to you to seek votes because of our achievements,” he told the crowd in his trademark conversational style.

Listing key projects carried out in the constituency, including for Pazhaverkadu, he urged the voters to elect Mr. Chandrasekar for the second time by a margin of 25,000 votes this time.

Later in Saidapet, he highlighted various infrastructure development works carried out by Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, who is contesting again from the constituency. He cited the ₹450-crore Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital and the ₹151-crore 200-bed National Centre of Ageing, and the upcoming Guindy Race Course eco-park. “These are only a sample of our achievements,” said Mr. Udhayanidhi.

Also read: Assembly elections 2026

Responding to criticism from AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswamy, he defended the DMK’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that party cadre, MLAs, and the Chief Minister himself were among the first to be on the ground assisting people.