While both the major political fronts in the State are yet to finalise their seat sharing arrangements, the Tiruchi East Assembly constituency has generated much interest in the Secular Progressive Alliance as the district units of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Congress and Makkal Needhi Maiyam are keen on contesting the seat.
The MDMK, which has been allotted four seats in the Secular Progressive Alliance, seems to be the keenest among the contenders for the seat. The former urban district secretary of the party, late A. Malarmannan, had won here twice but on the DMK ticket in 1984 and 1989.
“We had lost the seat in a few elections, we have worked in the constituency in several elections in the constituency. We know the constituency well and have a good presence here,” said Vellamandi R. Somu, Tiruchi Urban District Secretary, MDMK. The district unit had adopted a resolution urging the party high command to get the seat allotted in the alliance. “We will be happy if we are allotted the seat. If not, we won’t regret it; we will work for the alliance candidate,” Mr. Somu said.
Congress’s claim
The Tiruchi Urban District Congress Committee too had called for the allocation of the seat to the party. “We have good prospects in the constituency as we have done some good field work. However, it will be a joint decision of our alliance, which is quite big now. Whoever is allotted the seat, we will work wholeheartedly for their victory,” L. Rex, Urban District Congress Committee president.
The MNM, another constituent of the DMK-led front, is hoping to get Tiruchi East or Srirangam constituency in the district. “We have requested the party leadership to get the two constituencies in the district. We had secured nearly 12,000 votes in Tiruchi East in the previous election; we have strengthened our position since. We have done some good groundwork in Srirangam too. Hence, we have sought the seats,” said S.R. Kishore Kumar, District Secretary, MNM, Tiruchi.
The seat has attracted a handful of contenders within the AIADMK in the NDA too, party sources said.
The seat is held by S. Inigo Irudayaraj, founder of the Christuva Nallenna Iyakkam, who contesting on the DMK symbol, had defeated former AIADMK Minister Vellamandi Natarajan in 2021. Though there has been speculation that Mr. Irudayaraj may not be keen on contesting the seat again, however, sources close to the MLA said he would go by the decision of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
When TVK founder and actor Vijay launched his first State-wide election tour from the constituency in September last year, there was widespread speculation that he would enter the fray here. However, in recent days, the party sources have indicated that he is likely to contest from Perambur in Chennai.
Published – March 20, 2026 08:33 pm IST
