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DMK's Data-Driven Push: Surveys Shape Tamil Nadu Poll Strategy & Seat-Sharing

The ruling DMK has initiated large-scale, constituency-level surveys to identify its strongest potential candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The exercise involves directly questioning voters and party workers about political preferences and preferred nominees, while also recording caste and socio-economic details. The compiled data aims to provide the leadership with a realistic ground report to determine winnability. These findings will also critically inform the party's upcoming seat-sharing negotiations with its alliance partners.

Key Points: DMK Conducts Ground Surveys for Tamil Nadu Assembly Candidates

  • Voter surveys for candidate selection
  • Analysis of caste and socio-economic data
  • Feedback from cadres and influencers
  • Guide for alliance seat-sharing talks
2 min read

DMK conducts ground surveys to finalise candidates, fine-tunes seat-sharing for TN Assembly polls

DMK launches constituency-level surveys to pick winnable candidates and fine-tune seat-sharing ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

"The responses are compiled and submitted to the leadership, which helps determine who has the best winning chances. - DMK Source"

Chennai, Feb 9

With barely two months left for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the ruling DMK has intensified its preparations by initiating a comprehensive constituency-level survey exercise to identify winnable candidates and assess its electoral prospects across the state.

Party sources said the large-scale field study is designed to shortlist the strongest contender in each constituency by analysing factors such as local popularity, organisational strength, past electoral performance and the prevailing political climate.

The surveys are being conducted directly among voters, party cadres and key influencers to ensure that the leadership gets a realistic picture of the ground situation.

Members of the DMK's political strategy team explained that the process involves contacting voters at the constituency level and first asking which party they intend to support. Respondents are then presented with a list of potential DMK candidates and asked to choose their preferred nominee.

"The responses are compiled and submitted to the leadership, which helps determine who has the best winning chances," a source said.

Voters were asked to pick the candidate they would most likely support if fielded by the DMK. In addition to political preference, respondents' caste and socio-economic details are also being recorded to understand voting patterns more accurately.

Feedback is being gathered not only from the general public but also from booth-level workers, local functionaries and opinion-makers, giving the party a layered understanding of each constituency.

Sources associated with the DMK's consultancy firm said the exercise goes beyond candidate selection.

The findings will also guide the party's broader strategy, particularly during upcoming seat-sharing negotiations with alliance partners.

Constituencies like Thondamuthur, historically allotted to allies, may be reconsidered based on the party's present strength.

Senior leaders believe the data-driven approach will help the DMK enter alliance talks with clarity and avoid last-minute adjustments.

The party is expected to soon constitute a formal committee to begin seat-sharing discussions, once the survey reports are placed before the leadership.

With the campaign season approaching, the DMK appears keen to combine grassroots feedback with strategic planning to maximise its electoral strike rate.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a voter from Coimbatore, I appreciate this effort. Too often, parties impose candidates from Chennai who don't understand local issues. If they actually listen to our feedback, it's a good step. But the proof will be in the final candidate list – hope they don't ignore the survey for "political reasons".
S
Suresh O
Recording caste and socio-economic details? This is worrying. It feels like they are just formalizing what they always do – caste-based calculations. Elections should be about development, not which community a candidate belongs to. Disappointed but not surprised.
A
Ananya R
Good strategy. The ground survey will give them real pulse of the people. In TN, local popularity matters a lot. A candidate known in the constituency can swing votes. Hope they also survey on women's safety and job creation – key issues for us.
V
Vikram M
Seat-sharing will be the real test. If the survey says DMK is strong in a seat given to an ally last time, will they take it back? That could strain the alliance. Need to balance data with coalition dharma. Tough job for Stalin saar.
K
Karthik V
Hope they also survey performance of sitting MLAs. Some have become invisible after winning. We need accountable representatives, not just "winnable" candidates. The survey should have a question about work done in the last 5 years.

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