Delay in Tamilnadu Congress candidate announcement keeps nominees of Singanallur and Kavundampalayam constituencies off Chief Minister MK Stalin’s campaign stage in Coimbatore, raising concerns over early campaign momentum.
Coimbatore, April 2: Delay in candidate announcements by the Congress for the upcoming State Assembly elections has triggered concern among party cadres, many of whom remain in a wait-and-watch mode for direction from the high command to begin full-fledged campaign activities.
In Coimbatore district, the delay has resulted in Congress nominees missing the opportunity to share the stage with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at today’s high-profile campaign meeting—an absence being viewed as a setback within the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
The Congress, which has been allotted the Singanallur and Kavundampalayam constituencies, is yet to finalise its candidates. Consequently, the nominees will not be present when the Chief Minister introduces alliance candidates at the public meeting scheduled this evening at the CODISSIA Grounds on Avinashi Road.
Congress workers within the alliance have expressed concern that the delay could impact early campaign momentum in both constituencies. Missing the visibility and endorsement associated with a Chief Minister-led rally is seen as a disadvantage at a crucial stage of the election cycle.
Sources within the DMK indicate growing unease among cadres, who point out that while the Congress largely depends on the DMK’s campaign machinery, there has been little visible electioneering activity so far in Singanallur and Kavundampalayam. In contrast, rival parties are said to be accelerating their outreach and groundwork.
Party workers also recall that previous electoral outcomes in the region were decided by narrow margins, warning that delays in mobilisation could prove costly. “We lost by marginal numbers earlier. Any delay at this stage may impact the final result,” a DMK functionary noted.
Congress sources in Coimbatore suggest that Naveen Kumar (Ward No. 5) is a likely candidate for Kavundampalayam along with Surya and Gayathri Raj. For Singanallur, Mayura Jayakumar is said to be a frontrunner, while Shobana Selvan and Shrinithi Mohan are also in the race.
Ironically, the Congress, which had earlier demanded a larger seat share in Tamil Nadu and claimed readiness to contest in over 60 constituencies, is now facing criticism for delaying the announcement of its 28 candidates. While party sources maintain that the selection process involves multiple levels of scrutiny and consultation, political circles are abuzz with speculation that differences which surfaced during seat-sharing talks—particularly remarks made by some Congress leaders about the DMK—may still be influencing the delay.
There is also growing talk within sections of the alliance that the postponement could be a calculated move, resulting in Congress candidates not being present at the Chief Minister’s ongoing introductory campaign meeting—a development that has further fuelled internal discussions.
Meanwhile, the DMK has proceeded with full-scale preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit. Coimbatore South candidate Senthil Balaji is overseeing arrangements and coordinating party cadres ahead of the event.
The DMK has already announced candidates in eight constituencies: Senthil Balaji (Coimbatore South), Senthamil Selvan (Coimbatore North), N.R. Karthikeyan (Thondamuthur), Thalapathy Murugesan (Sulur), Nithyanandhan (Pollachi), Sudhakar (Valparai), Kavitha Kalyanasundaram (Mettupalayam), and Sabari Karthikeyan (Kinathukadavu).
In Coimbatore district, the delay has resulted in Congress nominees missing the opportunity to share the stage with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at today’s high-profile campaign meeting—an absence being viewed as a setback within the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
The Congress, which has been allotted the Singanallur and Kavundampalayam constituencies, is yet to finalise its candidates. Consequently, the nominees will not be present when the Chief Minister introduces alliance candidates at the public meeting scheduled this evening at the CODISSIA Grounds on Avinashi Road.
Congress workers within the alliance have expressed concern that the delay could impact early campaign momentum in both constituencies. Missing the visibility and endorsement associated with a Chief Minister-led rally is seen as a disadvantage at a crucial stage of the election cycle.
Sources within the DMK indicate growing unease among cadres, who point out that while the Congress largely depends on the DMK’s campaign machinery, there has been little visible electioneering activity so far in Singanallur and Kavundampalayam. In contrast, rival parties are said to be accelerating their outreach and groundwork.
Party workers also recall that previous electoral outcomes in the region were decided by narrow margins, warning that delays in mobilisation could prove costly. “We lost by marginal numbers earlier. Any delay at this stage may impact the final result,” a DMK functionary noted.
Congress sources in Coimbatore suggest that Naveen Kumar (Ward No. 5) is a likely candidate for Kavundampalayam along with Surya and Gayathri Raj. For Singanallur, Mayura Jayakumar is said to be a frontrunner, while Shobana Selvan and Shrinithi Mohan are also in the race.
Ironically, the Congress, which had earlier demanded a larger seat share in Tamil Nadu and claimed readiness to contest in over 60 constituencies, is now facing criticism for delaying the announcement of its 28 candidates. While party sources maintain that the selection process involves multiple levels of scrutiny and consultation, political circles are abuzz with speculation that differences which surfaced during seat-sharing talks—particularly remarks made by some Congress leaders about the DMK—may still be influencing the delay.
There is also growing talk within sections of the alliance that the postponement could be a calculated move, resulting in Congress candidates not being present at the Chief Minister’s ongoing introductory campaign meeting—a development that has further fuelled internal discussions.
Meanwhile, the DMK has proceeded with full-scale preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit. Coimbatore South candidate Senthil Balaji is overseeing arrangements and coordinating party cadres ahead of the event.
The DMK has already announced candidates in eight constituencies: Senthil Balaji (Coimbatore South), Senthamil Selvan (Coimbatore North), N.R. Karthikeyan (Thondamuthur), Thalapathy Murugesan (Sulur), Nithyanandhan (Pollachi), Sudhakar (Valparai), Kavitha Kalyanasundaram (Mettupalayam), and Sabari Karthikeyan (Kinathukadavu).