Chennai: DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi is likely to enter the fray in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with party sources indicating that she may be fielded from the Thiruchendur constituency.

If finalised, the move would mark her return to state electoral politics and reflect the DMK’s broader plan to reinforce its influence in southern Tamil Nadu.

Senior party functionaries suggest that Kanimozhi could replace the current MLA from Thiruchendur, Anitha Radhakrishnan, who is also serving as the state’s Fisheries Minister. According to sources, Radhakrishnan has informed the leadership that he may prefer not to contest the upcoming elections due to health-related reasons.

Although the DMK has not made an official announcement, internal discussions reportedly indicate that the leadership is seriously weighing the option of nominating Kanimozhi from the coastal seat.

Speculation intensified following a recent district executive committee meeting, during which party delegates are said to have emphasised the need for a commanding victory in Thiruchendur.

At the meeting, Anitha Radhakrishnan reportedly appealed to the cadre to secure a resounding win for the party’s nominee, urging them to ensure a “massive winning margin” for whoever the DMK fields — a statement widely viewed as a sign of an impending transition.

Kanimozhi, the daughter of late chief minister and DMK stalwart M Karunanidhi and sister of Chief Minister M K Stalin, remains one of the party’s most prominent national figures.

Currently representing Thoothukudi in Parliament, she has been actively involved in debates on federalism, language policy and social justice issues.

When recently asked by journalists whether she would contest from Thiruchendur in 2026, Kanimozhi did not dismiss the possibility, further adding to speculation around her potential candidature.

Political analysts believe that her entry into the Thiruchendur contest could considerably enhance the DMK’s prospects in southern districts, as the party prepares for a closely watched Assembly election.

A formal announcement is expected nearer to the poll schedule.

IANS