Chennai:
Far away from Chennai, in 32-degree heat, MK Stalin is today setting in motion his party's campaign in Kanyakumari, starting with the southern tip of Tamil Nadu.
But his brother,
MK Alagiri, has bested him by grabbing the political arc-lights this morning with a meeting with superstar
Rajinikanth.
NDTV's opinion poll shows Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK winning 27 of the state's 39 seats; the forecast for the DMK is 10 seats.
Mr Stalin is 61; Mr Alagiri is 63. For years, the war between them for control of the DMK has been a mainstay of the political circuit in Tamil Nadu. Mr Alagiri was suspended in January by their father and party chief M Karunanidhi for indiscipline. This week, the 89-year-old leader excluded Mr Alagiri from the DMK's roster of candidates for the national election.
(Alagiri to sit out national election but may launch party after)As his father's political successor-in-waiting, Mr Stalin faces the challenge of resuscitating the DMK's fortune in Tamil Nadu. In 2011, the party was forcefully evicted from office by Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK. A year later, the DMK quit the Prime Minister's coalition government, accusing it of not holding Sri Lanka accountable for alleged atrocities against the island's ethnic Tamils. For this election, the DMK has chosen not to continue its alliance with the Congress.
Tamil Nadu votes on April 24 for its 39 parliamentary seats.
The DMK's candidates include just eight of its 18 incumbent MPs, signalling Mr Stalin's say in deciding candidates. Many of them are his loyalists. Among those who are running for parliament are A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran. Both are former telecom ministers accused of malversation.
Mr Stalin is not a member of parliament; nor is Mr Karunanidhi. Both are state legislators M Kanimozhi, who is Mr Karunanidhi's daughter, was recently re-elected to the Rajya Sabha or upper house of parliament.