Tamil Nadu By-Election: MK Stalin May Contest From Trichy East Assembly Seat

Tamil Nadu may soon see a major by-election in Trichy East. Sources say DMK chief MK Stalin may contest from the assembly seat vacated by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. However, the former chief minister has so far neither accepted nor denied such reports. Speculation has been rife in Tamil Nadu's political circles about Stalin's possible candidature. The buzz began when senior DMK leader KN Nehru told a gathering in Pudukottai that the former chief minister would soon return to the assembly. Stalin had lost the recent elections by a margin of 8,000 votes from Kolathur, his traditional stronghold. KN Nehru's comment came in response to Chief Minister Vijay's jibe at Stalin's absence from the assembly. While Stalin said, "I am in the hearts of the people. I may not be in the assembly, but wherever people look for me, I am present."