DMK president M.K. Stalin, who took over as party chief soon after last August’s demise of his father and party president M. Karunanidhi, faces an acid test, the first under his leadership, with the upcoming by-election in Tiruvarur.

Karunanidhi was representing Tiruvarur in the State Legislative Assembly from 2011 after winning successive elections in 2011 and 2016. He fell ill towards end-2016 and after remaining almost bed-ridden for 18 months, he passed away in August last year. The Election Commission has now announced that by-polls in Tiruvarur would be held on 28th January. Votes would be counted on 31st January, it is further informed.

With the announcement that nomination of candidates’ papers would commence from Thursday (03rd January), the code of conduct for political parties comes into effect almost immediately. This would be the first election/by-election that Stalin faces in Karunanidhi’s absence in the past four decades of his political life. He is under pressure to win from Tiruvarur if not to show to other parties that he is competent in retaining the seat last held by his father.

Who would Stalin field as the party’s candidate in place of his illustrious father is also a million dollar question: it remains to be seen whether he prefers a local party functionary in Tiruvarur or thrusts another of his family members into big-time politics. On the contrary, the ruling AIADMK and the BJP would plot overtime to ensure that the DMK loses the polls, ahead of Parliamentary elections scheduled to be held during April-May.