Coimbatore South battle tightens: DMK's Senthil Balaji holds slender lead vs AIADMK-led NDA

V. Senthil Balaji has been nominated by the DMK for the 2026 Assembly elections in Coimbatore South, departing from his traditional base in Karur.

Updated on: May 4, 2026, 15:05:18 IST

By Payal Kumari

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V. Senthil Balaji is a key political leader in Tamil Nadu, known for his consistent electoral success, especially in the Karur region, where he has won multiple Assembly elections under different party banners.

DMK candidate V Senthil Balaji from Coimbatore (South) Assembly constituency. (Twitter)

For the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has nominated him from the Coimbatore South constituency, signalling a departure from his usual Karur base. This shift is being viewed as a calculated move by the party to expand its influence in a crucial urban constituency, where it is set to face a strong challenge from the AIADMK-led NDA alliance. He currently holds a slender lead of 1124 votes against V Senthilkumar of TVK, while AIADMK's Amman K. Arjunan sits third as he trails by 12921 votes.

Background

V. Senthil Balaji was born on October 21, 1975, in Rameswarapatti near Karur in Tamil Nadu, into an agricultural family. He completed his schooling in Karur and later enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce course at Government Arts College. However, he chose to leave his studies midway to pursue a career in politics at a young age.

Balaji began his electoral journey in 2006, winning from the Karur constituency as a candidate of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He retained the seat in 2011 with a stronger mandate and went on to serve as Transport Minister in the state cabinet, marking his rise within the party.

Also Read: Which parties are in NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu? Seat-sharing explained

His political trajectory took a significant turn in 2017 when he was expelled from the AIADMK. He later joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the presence of M. K. Stalin and was appointed the Karur district secretary. He made a successful comeback by winning the Aravakurichi by-election in 2019.

What happened in previous elections?

The Coimbatore South constituency has witnessed shifting political dynamics over the past few elections. In 2011, the seat was won by the AIADMK, establishing its early dominance in the constituency. The party retained control in 2016, with Amman K. Arjunan emerging victorious.

However, the 2021 Assembly elections saw a significant shift, with Vanathi Srinivasan of the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the seat, marking a gain from the AIADMK and changing the constituency’s political landscape.

In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the contest in Coimbatore South has become a triangular battle. The DMK has fielded V. Senthil Balaji, while the AIADMK has nominated Amman K. Arjunan. Balaji’s entry into this urban constituency marks a strategic shift, making the seat one of the most closely watched in the state.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Payal Kumari
Payal is a budding journalist currently pursuing her passion for storytelling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She has always loved writing and reading, and over time, these interests grew into a strong desire to tell stories that people can connect with. This is what led her to choose journalism and content writing as a career. She has interned with Prabhat Khabar, where she worked with the social media team. During her internship, she created content for different platforms and learned how to write in a clear and engaging way for a wide audience. This experience helped her understand how digital content works and improved her writing skills. Payal is always looking to learn and grow as a writer. She is open to exploring different kinds of stories and wants to keep getting better with each piece she writes. Outside of her work and studies, she is an avid reader. She enjoys reading all kinds of books, especially fiction and fantasy, and loves getting lost in different worlds and characters. Reading has always been a big part of her life and continues to inspire her writing. She is excited to keep learning, writing, and discovering where her journey in journalism takes her.Read More

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026

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