Tamil Nadu politics: Minister defends campaign remarks as TVK polls surge

Political tensions are rising in Tamil Nadu following a controversial incident during actor-turned-politician Vijay’s campaign in Dharapuram. Union Minister Rajamohan Naidu addressed allegations from the DMK and AIADMK that he was ‘acting’ during the event. Naidu clarified that he told campaigner Satyabama to ‘make it past’ because organizers were struggling to manage the large, waiting crowds in the heat.

Simultaneously, recent opinion polls regarding the Dharapuram and Madhurantakam constituencies indicate a significant shift in the political landscape. The surveys suggest a five-way contest where the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is projected to secure over 80% of the vote. This surge has led to predictions that traditional Dravidian parties, including the DMK, AIADMK, the Left parties, and Naam Tamilar Katchi, may face the loss of their election deposits in these specific areas due to the high popularity of Vijay’s party.