As Tamil Nadu is set to vote on Thursday, the assembly elections are emerging as a crucial political contest, one that could put the resilience of the state’s long-dominant Dravidian model to the test.Several constituencies are set to be closely watched in Tamil Nadu. MK Stalin seeks to retain Kolathur, while Udhayanidhi Stalin faces a key test in Chepauk. Vijay is making a high-profile debut from Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. Edappadi K Palaniswami is aiming for another win in Edappadi, while O Panneerselvam’s switch to DMK makes Bodinayakkanur a key battleground. Tamilisai Soundararajan in Mylapore and Nainar Nagendran in Sattur further add to the high-stakes contests.

Key seats to watch out for:

Kolathur: MK Stalin is back in Kolathur, a seat he has held since 2011. The DMK chief is looking to reinforce his stronghold while leading the party’s broader re-election push.Chepauk: Udhayanidhi Stalin is seeking to retain Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. After his 2021 win, this contest is being seen as a key test of his growing political stature.Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur: Vijay is making a high-stakes entry, contesting from Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. His party, TVK, is fighting all 234 seats, making this one of the most closely watched campaigns.Edappadi: Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting from his bastion Edappadi. The former chief minister is aiming for a fourth straight win here as he leads the AIADMK charge.Bodinayakkanur: O Panneerselvam, once a key AIADMK face, is now contesting on a DMK ticket from Bodinayakkanur—his long-time stronghold. His party switch makes this a high-voltage battle.Mylapore: Tamilisai Soundararajan enters the fray from Mylapore. The former Telangana governor is a prominent BJP face in the state.Sattur: Nainar Nagendran has moved from Tirunelveli to Sattur, making this constituency another key contest to watch.