Senthilbalaji Pledges Dual Focus on Karur and Coimbatore Amid Election Shift
Former minister V Senthilbalaji made it unequivocally clear on Tuesday that he will maintain a vigilant watch over Karur, despite his decision to contest from the Coimbatore South constituency in the upcoming elections. He poetically described both locations as being akin to his two eyes, emphasizing his enduring connection to Karur, which he credited for introducing him to the political world at the age of 31.
DMK's Strategic Moves and Senthilbalaji's Continued Influence
As the Karur district secretary for the DMK, Senthilbalaji has personally selected candidates who are his trusted aides for key seats. This includes M Thiyagarajan, who is set to contest from Karur, with Senthilbalaji launching his campaign recently. The DMK strongman is also actively overseeing preparations for party president M K Stalin's campaign event on Wednesday, aimed at drumming up support across all four constituencies in the region.
A DMK functionary highlighted that Senthilbalaji's shift does not signify a withdrawal from Karur politics. In fact, they asserted he will ensure no setbacks for the party there, drawing parallels to his previous move from the Aravakurichi constituency. During that transition, he successfully fielded a loyalist who secured victory against BJP's K Annamalai in 2021. The DMK is now fielding the same candidate, R Elango, from Aravakurichi again, while introducing new faces in Kulithalai and Krishnarayapuram (reserved).
Another DMK source added that all three candidates are trusted aides, with Elango having carried out party activities during Senthilbalaji's time in jail. In Krishnarayapuram, a former AIADMK bastion won by the DMK in 2021, Senthilbalaji recommended C K Raja, a loyalist, to retain the seat.
AIADMK's Perspective on Senthilbalaji's Decision
In contrast, AIADMK district sources argue that conditions in Karur were unfavourable for Senthilbalaji to win again, attributing his shift to a fear of loss. AIADMK district presidium chairman S Thiruvika stated that their candidate and former minister M R Vijayabhaskar has been campaigning vigorously for the past one-and-a-half months, while Senthilbalaji was largely absent until recently.
Thiruvika cited several factors affecting public sentiment against Senthilbalaji, including corruption charges, alleged involvement in the Karur stampede conspiracy, unfulfilled temple-related issues, and broken promises. He suggested that these challenges prompted Senthilbalaji to seek a safer constituency in Coimbatore, rather than face potential defeat in Karur.
The political landscape in Karur remains deeply intertwined with Senthilbalaji's legacy, but his strategic move to Coimbatore South has injected renewed energy into the AIADMK's campaign, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral battle.
