Tamil Nadu Assembly election: Film producer-director Sundar C. is NDA’s Madurai Central candidate

Film producer, director, and actor Sundar C. has been nominated by the Pudiya Neethi Katchi (New Justice Party) to contest from the prestigious Madurai Central Assembly constituency.

The party, which is an ally of the AIADMK, said it would seek votes on the latter’s ‘two leaves’ symbol.

A.C. Shanmugam, founder of the PNK, said on Saturday (March 28, 2026) that the AIADMK, under the leadership of Edappadi K. Palaniswami, would sweep the Assembly election and comfortably form the next government. He added that, with the DMK facing severe criticism from the public for its “failures across sectors” over the past five years, the AIADMK would restore its lost sheen.

Mr. Sundar has worked as a producer, writer, and director in Tamil cinema, and has been associated with hit films such as Anbe Sivam, the Aranmanai series, and the Kalakalappu series. It may be recalled that his name was recently proposed as the director of a new film starring Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, but he later expressed his inability to take up the project.

The PNK, which has been allotted two seats in the NDA, will decide on the second seat on Monday (March 30) in Chennai, Mr. Shanmugam said in a press note.

AIADMK cadre disappointed

AIADMK functionaries, however, expressed disappointment over the seat not being allocated to a candidate from their party. “Madurai Central is a prestigious seat… and giving it to the ally is unfortunate,” an AIADMK councillor in the Madurai Corporation said.

Though Mr. Sundar is popular and his wife, actor-politician Kushbu, is also a celebrity, the people in the constituency would have been more comfortable with a candidate from the native area, the councillor said. However, since the party high command made the decision, the cadre base would work hard for the victory of the alliance partner.

PTR banks on goodwill

Though the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) are also in the fray, the contest will most likely be between the two major Dravidian parties — the DMK and the AIADMK — political observers in the ‘temple’ city said.

With Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the sitting minister, expected to contest for the third consecutive time from the Madurai Central constituency (the list is yet to be announced by the DMK), he appears to be confident, DMK functionaries said.

A functionary said, “Mr. Rajan has a thorough knowledge of the segment. He is the only elected representative in the State who releases a progress card twice a year on his performance and openly declares, with pride, that he does not bribe voters.”

In 2016, the DMK polled 42.55% of the votes, and in 2021, the party secured 49.47%. On both occasions, Mr. Rajan defeated the AIADMK. Having delivered numerous works and new facilities to the people, he is expected to improve his performance in 2026, the DMK functionary added.

Further, the people in the constituency hold Mr. Rajan in high regard, DMK sources said, as he has nearly three decades of experience working in the corporate sector in the USA, Singapore, and other locations. The party high command initially assigned him the finance portfolio, but for various reasons, he was later shifted to IT & Digital Services, considered a less prominent portfolio.

The anti-incumbency factor

The DMK, which has been in power for the last five years, certainly faces anti-incumbency challenges in the election. On top of this, there are intra-party feuds that need to be addressed by the leadership, as Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth — who had been reprimanded by Mr. Thiaga Rajan — resigned after her husband, Pon Vasanth, came under scrutiny in the property tax scam and was placed in judicial custody.

For the time being, AIADMK functionaries are united in setting aside differences and working hard for the party’s victory in the State. However, the DMK is also confident of a landslide win, believing that their achievements will stand by them.

Published – March 28, 2026 01:15 pm IST