Coimbatore (South) has emerged as one of the most prestigious battlegrounds in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) locked in a fierce battle with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led NDA.
DMK has fielded former minister and heavyweight V Senthil Balaji, a controversial figure marred by corruption allegations. Balaji, who switched from the AMMK to the DMK in 2018, is seen as a key player in the Kongu belt, and faces AIADMK candidate Amman K Arjunan, a relatively low-profile but grounded leader.
AIADMK candidate for Coimbatore South, Amman K Arjunan, engaged in a door-to-door campaign
Balaji has been campaigning mainly on the DMK government’s welfare measures, including ₹1,000 a month to women and extension of breakfast scheme to lunch in government schools.
Cadre unhappy
However, not many DMK cadres are happy with the party giving the ticket to an outsider when several senior local leaders were available. “With so many corruption charges, Balaji may have a tough chance,” said a party worker. “However, we are giving our best since he is the person in charge for the party in the Kongu region,” he added.
“Corruption and high electricity charges will go against the DMK government in the industrial belts,” said an entrepreneur of a mid-size company. The 68-year-old Amman K Arjunan has a strong backing from elders, especially women who have been supporting two leaves for long in the constituency. “He is simple and honest person,” said a voter as he walked through one of the narrow bylanes. In 2021, he won from Coimbatore (North) and is now back to his home turf.
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin, flanked by the two Coimbatore candidates — Senthil Balaji and Senthamil Selvan — at a rally in the region, said the election was a battle between Tamil Nadu and Delhi. For Coimbatore, the Centre denied the Metro Rail Project. “We will get the project when we return to power,” he assured the voters. Meanwhile, at a press conference on Friday, BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan and former BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai said that makkal sakthi (people power) will support the BJP in Coimbatore (South).
“In Coimbatore belt, the NDA will have 11/11 constituencies, including Avinashi. The alliance is comfortably placed to form the next government,” said Annamalai.
Annamalai dismissed the DMK’s allegations that delimitation will go against the interests of southern States. While many talk about the growing popularity of the newly formed Tamil Vettri Kazhagam, the party is nowhere to be seen in the constituency.
‘We are now well known among voters. Our party’s symbol, the whistle, will speak for itself in the ballot box,” said a party worker.
Published on April 17, 2026