Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin being presented a sword by KN Nehru during a public rally in support of party candidates across different constituencies of Tiruchirappalli district | Photo Credit: -

Veteran DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply, KN Nehru, is fighting with his back to the wall to retain the Tiruchirappalli (West) constituency in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Nehru, named after India’s first Prime Minister as his father was a staunch Congress follower, is pitted against M Rajasekharan of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner; G Ramamoorthy of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TCK); and K Bhuvaneswari of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). 

Allegations

For someone who won the elections, garnering 65 per cent of the 1.7 lakh votes polled in 2021, the turn of events has made the situation tough for him. Nehru, who has been a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly five times, is facing serious allegations of corruption, tender manipulation and bribery of about ₹1,000 crore. The allegations follow a probe by the Enforcement Directorate, which claimed there was a cash-for-jobs scheme within his department. 

An NDA observer alleged that his own party has failed to defend him, and that some of his own senior partymen are working against him. “There has been so much corruption and Nehru has been a beneficiary. People have taken these charges seriously,” says B Murugan, a transporter in Tiruchirapalli city. “Tiruchirappalli has no government high school. There are government middle schools, but after eighth class students have to join private institutions,” says K Velusamy, a labourer.

A political observer said the current DMK incumbents in Tiruchirappalli East and West face anti-incumbency. “All these are making things difficult for Nehru,” he said. R Ramesh, who works for the NDA coalition, said there are certain positive aspects of Nehru that could work in his favour. “One, he has helped people who have approached him. Two, he attends all local functions when invited,” he said.

A local person said when one of the girls in the suburban area was selected to the Indian junior women’s hockey team, he helped her after the Hockey India authorities informed her that she would have to meet some of the expenses. “Such gestures will make some families indebted to him forever,” he said.  

The other advantage for Nehru is that his AMMK rival Rajasekharan hails from a suburban area and not the city. However, NDA workers said he had been part of the local administration and had done good work. Rajasekharan told businessline that he was confident of doing well at the hustings and would win. However, he was not willing to respond beyond that. His aides, too, were not ready to respond further.

Age factor

TVK’s Ramamoorthy is 70 years old, drawing criticism from supporters and opponents for his age. “Essentially, it is a two-horse race. This could be the last time Nehru will contest elections. He would want to go down guns blazing,” says an observer, not wishing to be identified.

The DMK’s 26-party coalition arithmetic could also come to the veteran party leader’s rescue. Tiruchirappalli (West) was formed in 2011. Then, Nehru lost to Mariyam Pitchai, who died in an accident on way to be sworn in as minister. In the by-elections that followed, Nehru lost again to Paranjothi. But he won in 2016, getting 51 per cent of the 1.7 lakh votes cast. He retained his seat in 2021. Before 2011, Nehru had won from the nearby Lalgudi constituency in 1989, 1996 and 2006.

Published on April 17, 2026