Chennai, April 2 DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin filed his nomination papers for the upcoming April 23 Assembly elections from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, seeking a second consecutive term.
The 48-year-old DMK leader arrived at the venue after a massive roadshow that saw thousands of party members and supporters lining the streets. Accompanied by senior party leaders and local officials, Udhayanidhi submitted his documents to the Returning Officer shortly before noon.
Speaking to reporters after the filing, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed confidence in the "Dravidian Model" of governance. "We will definitely win this time, and especially women are very happy with the transformative work done by our leader, M K Stalin, over the last five years. Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is my home, and the overwhelming support today shows that our victory is assured. I will be campaigning in the constituency this evening," he said.
He also reiterated the party's stand against the "imposition" of central policies, framing the 2026 election as a fight to "protect the self-respect and rights of Tamil Nadu".
The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat, a traditional DMK stronghold once represented by the late M Karunanidhi, is set to witness a high-profile contest. Udhayanidhi's filing follows Chief Minister M K Stalin's nomination from Kolathur earlier this week, as the DMK-led alliance ramps up its campaign against the AIADMK-led NDA and the newly formed TVK led by actor-politician Vijay.
The single-phase poll to the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 234 seats will be held on April 23.