Sivaganga: Is this P Chidambaram's toughest election? Post delimitation, his Sivaganga constituency has become bigger. But that's not India's Home Minister's only worry.
He is pitted against the influential Yadava caste of the AIADMK candidate. So Chidambaram, who belongs to the Chettiar community, is covering at least 25 hamlets everyday.
And it's a double barrel attack, with his Cambridge educated son Karti covering more ground simultaneously.
When asked by NDTV about the common belief that this time he might be facing a tough fight, P Chidambaram said, "You're welcome to believe whatever you want."
Chidambaram seems unfazed and not unduly concerned about the caste factor. He's banking on his achievements showcased in this 60 page booklet.
His eloquent Congress leader's poll plank primarily hinges on a proliferation of new bank branches in Sivaganga and educational loans. While Jayalalithaa and her allies are going full throttle on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, there is not even a whisper of this in Chidambaram's campaign.
"The people are aware that the Centre is doing all that is possible. And that the State Government is also putting pressure. People know we are doing our best," said P Chidambaram.
Having won his seat 6 times in the past, Chidambaram's campaign managers say they are confident of victory. But given the tough competition this time around and many independents like this candidate called Rajiv Gandhi, observers feel the margin may well be narrow.