Braving the soaring temperatures in the city, leaders of various political parties and candidates fanned out across neighbourhoods on Friday to canvass votes, as the Assembly election draws closer.

After completing another phase of campaigning in various Assembly segments across Tamil Nadu, DMK youth wing secretary and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin went on a door-to-door campaign in his home turf of Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni on Friday morning.

Accompanied by senior DMK leaders, including Chennai Central MP Dayanidhi Maran, Mr. Udhayanidhi campaigned on R.O.B. Street, Hussain Ali Khan Street, Hyder Ali Khan Street, and Sardar Jung Main Street. Later, he held a meeting in Royapettah with representatives of the Christian community, Christian educational institutions, and industrial establishments from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

During the meeting, he recalled the long-term relationship between his party and minorities. He also listed the measures taken by the DMK government for the welfare of Christians, including the renovation of churches.

He said the DMK stands firm in upholding and safeguarding secularism at a time when hate campaigns are rampant in other parts of India. He added that Tamil Nadu remains a peaceful haven and an example of communal harmony.

He also said the people of Tamil Nadu would never accept the BJP, which “spreads the politics of hatred”. “Knowing that they will not be accepted if they come directly, sanghi and fascist forces are now trying to enter by forming alliances with subservient groups,” he said.

In the evening, Mr. Udhayanidhi campaigned for party nominees A. Subair Khan in Royapuram, J.J. Ebinezer in Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar, and Dha. Velu in Mylapore.

Senior BJP leader and party candidate for Mylapore Tamilisai Soundararajan, campaigned at Vanniampathi TNUHDB tenements, Thiruvenkadam Street, Rani Annadurai Street, Srinivasan Street, and Loganathan Street in Mandaveli. She said she was confident of winning the election.

In Villivakkam, TVK candidate Aadhav Arjuna went door-to-door seeking votes in Ambedkar Nagar, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, and on Kamarajar Street. He alleged that no development took place in Villivakkam over the past five years.