As Tamil Nadu’s political arena steadily moves toward the peak of election season, the contours of alliances and seat-sharing are beginning to take shape. Within the DMK-led alliance, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which recently aligned with the ruling front, has quietly placed Virudhunagar among the constituencies it hopes to secure. Party insiders indicate that Vijay Prabhakaran, DMDK’s State Youth Wing Secretary, could be fielded from the seat — a move that could turn into yet another political surprise for the family of late leader Vijayakanth.

With the Assembly elections approaching, political parties across Tamil Nadu have intensified deliberations over seat distribution — how many seats each ally will receive and which constituencies they will contest. Since December, parties have been engaged in behind-the-scenes calculations, and much of the speculation had centred on which side DMDK would ultimately lean toward.

The party had made efforts to reinforce its influence with the BJP leadership in Delhi. Simultaneously, talks between the DMDK leadership and former minister S P Velumani at the Isha centre in Coimbatore had fuelled expectations that the party would tilt toward the AIADMK camp. However, in a move that surprised many observers, DMDK eventually joined hands with the DMK alliance at Anna Arivalayam.

Political circles widely discussed that the shift was partly triggered by dissatisfaction over the denial of a Rajya Sabha seat during earlier negotiations with the AIADMK front. For months, speculation about DMDK’s final decision resembled a waiting game. The suspense finally ended with the party formally aligning with the DMK-led bloc.

If one were to borrow the phrase often used in the style of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the situation now resembles a ripe fruit slipping straight into a bowl of milk. Sources suggest that the DMK leadership may allocate around seven seats to DMDK as part of the alliance arrangement, along with a Rajya Sabha berth.

Amid these developments, reports indicate that Vijay Prabhakaran could be fielded from Virudhunagar. The constituency is already familiar terrain for both him and the party. DMDK leaders believe this familiarity could significantly strengthen his prospects.

During the last Lok Sabha election, Vijay Prabhakaran contested from the Virudhunagar parliamentary constituency. In that contest, Congress candidate Manickam Tagore secured victory. According to the 2024 results, Tagore polled 3,85,286 votes, while Vijay Prabhakaran, a relatively new face at the time, received 3,80,877 votes — a margin of roughly 5,000 votes.

Despite the vote split in the parliamentary election, DMDK believes the Assembly election could allow the party to consolidate support that had been fragmented earlier. Party strategists argue that if Vijay Prabhakaran contests from Virudhunagar in the upcoming Assembly election, the chances of victory could be significantly stronger.

Another factor influencing the party’s calculations is the evolving political landscape in Virudhunagar district. AIADMK leader Rajendra Balaji, a well-known face in the region, is reportedly eyeing the Sivakasi constituency this time. Meanwhile, DMK’s sitting MLA and minister Thangam Thennarasu has already filed his nomination of interest for the Tiruchuli constituency. In such a scenario, DMDK believes there may be little resistance from the DMK in allocating Virudhunagar to its alliance partner.

For DMDK, the stakes extend beyond a single seat. Having secured space within the DMK alliance camp, the party is keen to convert the opportunity into political recognition by winning a significant share of the constituencies it contests. Vijay Prabhakaran, widely seen as the next political face of the party and carrying the legacy of Vijayakanth, is central to that strategy.

If the Virudhunagar ticket eventually goes to him, party cadres say preparations are already under way to turn the contest into a winnable battle. In DMDK’s internal calculations, the constituency could well become the stage where the party attempts to harvest a crucial electoral victory.