V Senthil Balaji, a prominent Tamil Nadu politician, has been nominated by the DMK as its candidate for the Coimbatore South constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
This move marks a significant change for the party, as it moves away from its usual stronghold of Karur to contest the election.
The DMK's decision is seen as an attempt to strengthen its position in an important urban seat where it faces strong competition from the AIADMK-BJP alliance.
Senthil Balaji has a strong electoral record, particularly in Karur, where he won multiple Assembly elections across party lines.
He made his electoral debut in 2006, winning the Karur constituency as a representative of the AIADMK, and later became a member of the Cabinet, holding the position of Transport Minister in the state.
However, his political career saw a major shift in 2017 when he was expelled from the AIADMK and later joined the DMK.
He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2023 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam during his time as Transport Minister.
He was later granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2024 after spending over a year in custody, while the case is still under trial.
