MK Stalin addressing DMK supporters after filing his nomination papers.
DMK Treasurer M K Stalin filed his nomination today seeking a second term from the Kolathur constituency in Chennai.
Hundreds of party cadre cheered the 63-year-old who launched a road show after filing his papers. Mr Stalin said, "Kolathur constituency is like my mother's place. If elected I'd give my best yet again."
In the 2011 elections the DMK chief's son won by a slender margin of less than 2300 votes defeating Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraiswamy. This time he is pitted against the AIADMK's J D C Prabhakar, the sitting legislator from the Villivakam Constituency, and DMDK's Madhivanan.
Chennai was once the DMK's bastion. But, in 2006 the party lost the stronghold to AIADMK after floods struck the city that year. However, this time the party is hopeful of reclaiming the city, banking on what they call the ruling AIADMk's inefficient handling of the recent floods.
Mr Stalin launched the interactive 'Pesalam Vaanga' (Come Let's Talk) programme for residents. He was the mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002 and later, served under his father M Karunanidhi cabinet as the Local Administration Minister and later as Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr Karunanidhi, 93, is unable to campaign actively. Mr Stalin, seen as DMK's heir apparent, took the lead in campaigning across all 234 constituencies as early as last September through his 'Namaku Naame' tour programme in which he reached out to various sections including students, women self-help groups and business communities among others.
The opposition is fragmented after the DMK failed in its attempts to rope in actor Vijayakant's DMDK who's leading the third front now. With the PMK and BJP too fighting alone it's a five cornered contest.
The DMK hopes to capture power from the AIADMK and the ruling party is confident of a second term. The state goes for polls on May 16.