Chennai: The electoral contest in Tamil Nadu is sharpening with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party set to face off directly in 18 Assembly constituencies, adding a significant layer of political intensity to the upcoming state polls.

The DMK on Sunday released its full list of 164 candidates for the 234-member Assembly, retaining 70 seats for its alliance partners under the Secular Progressive Alliance. The announcement clarifies the contours of several high-stakes contests, particularly where the BJP—contesting as part of the National Democratic Alliance alongside the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam—is expected to field candidates.

Direct DMK vs BJP contests: Key constituencies

The two parties are poised for straight fights in constituencies including Avadi, Mylapore, Tiruvannamalai, Rasipuram (SC), Coimbatore North, Avinashi (SC), Tiruppur South, Sattur, Tiruchendur, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tirupattur, Manamadurai (SC), Ramanathapuram, Vasudevanallur, Radhapuram, and Nagercoil.

While the BJP has been allotted 27 seats by the AIADMK within the NDA framework, candidate announcements are still awaited and are expected imminently. Political observers note that these 18 constituencies will serve as a litmus test for the BJP’s independent electoral traction in the state, where it has historically relied on alliances.

Ministers in the fray: High-voltage battles

Notably, five of these constituencies will witness BJP candidates taking on sitting DMK ministers, escalating the stakes further. These include:

Tiruvannamalai: Minister E. V. Velu

Tirupattur: Minister Periyakaruppan

Avadi: Minister S. M. Nasar

Tiruchendur: Minister Anita R. Radhakrishnan

Rasipuram (SC): Minister Mathiventhan

The BJP’s strategy to directly challenge incumbent ministers indicates an aggressive push to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu, where the DMK remains a dominant force under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.

The emergence of these direct contests underscores a shifting electoral dynamic. While the DMK continues to bank on its governance record and alliance arithmetic, the BJP is attempting to convert its growing vote share from previous elections into seat-level gains.

Analysts suggest that urban constituencies like Mylapore and Coimbatore North, along with politically sensitive regions such as Tiruvannamalai and Ramanathapuram, could become key battlegrounds influencing broader electoral narratives.