As the 87-year-old DMK patriarch hit the roads from here to his home-turf of Tiruvarur, a large rally there hailed him as the chief ministerial candidate for the sixth time. Sharing the platform with leaders of the DMK’s allies including the Congress, PMK, Dalit outfit, Vidhuthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League, and Dravidar Kazhagam among others, the speakers projected the DMK’s manifesto “promising everything to all”.

The launch of the poll campaign at Tiruvarur was significant as Karunanidhi will be filing his nomination papers from there for a record 12th time on Thursday. In a show of strength, the leading lights of the DMK’s first family, including M K Alagiri, Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, and Kanimozhi, MP, were present. Karunanidhi’s another daughter, Selvi, has already begun campaigning in Tiruvarur for her father.On way to Tiruvarur, Karunanidhi rested for a while at Puducherry, where  high drama awaited him.

One of the 10 DMK candidates for the Puducherry Assembly A K Ramesh alias Senthil, was “arrested” by the Union Territory Police when he went to meet his party leader there.