DMK intensifies grassroot campaigns in three ‘tough’ seats

Trichy: With the 2026 assembly election campaign entering its decisive final stretch, the DMK's Trichy unit is zeroing in on weak spots and intensified its grassroots outreach to secure an edge. Having swept all nine assembly segments in 2021, the party now finds itself in a precarious situation, with at least three constituencies - Trichy East, Lalgudi, Manapparai and Srirangam - emerging as key battlegrounds, and DMK desperate to retain them.DMK sources said that the contest is expected to be close in Trichy East, Lalgudi, Manapparai and Srirangam. At Trichy East, where TVK leader Vijay is contesting, DMK has deployed star campaigners besides the door-to-door and ward-level campaigning by the incumbent DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj. Party sources said that high command is satisfied with the campaign strategy, claiming that the public reception is conducive in Trichy East. However, three other constituencies, namely Lalgudi, Srirangam and Manapparai, remain a challenge for the DMK. AIADMK candidates lottery baron family's Leema Rose Martin in Lalgudi, Dr P L Vijayakumar, an orthopaedic surgeon in Manapparai, and former chief whip R Manoharan in Srirangam are challenging the DMK unit. In Manapparai, MMK candidate, sitting MLA Abdul Samad, is contesting on DMK's symbol while fresh faces S Durairaj and T Parivallal have been fielded by DMK in Srirangam and Lalgudi respectively."For Manapparai, a segment which falls under minister Anbil Mahesh's DMK district, senior minister K N Nehru is campaigning for the MMK candidate. He met DMK functionaries who expected a ticket to contest but felt disappointed. They were persuaded to work for the victory of the MMK candidate," a DMK source said. Both ministers Nehru and Mahesh warned the non-performing functionaries about consequences. In Lalgudi, DMK has intensified the campaign, giving a tough fight to Leema Rose, the state's richest candidate. "Only three days left. Identifying the weak areas in the constituencies and persuading the party workers to mobilise support is the plan," a district-level functionary from the DMK alliance said. Dropping the sitting MLAs in Lalgudi and Srirangam has put DMK in a spot. Incumbents continue to stay away from campaigns.