In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections on April 19, major coalitions sharpened their electioneering activities. Candidates traveled in open jeeps, hostile to the scorching sun, as party workers canvassed from door to door, distributing pamphlets. Adding color to it was the presence of star campaigners who had descended to stump for their candidates.

BJP State President K. Annamalai held a series of rallies in and around Chennai on Saturday in support of his party and the coalition candidates. At the same time, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi took up campaigning for their party candidate in Coimbatore. Annamalai projected the image of the Prime Minister in terms of economic development and appealed to the voters to vote for the NDA candidates.

In Sriperumbudur, Annamalai lashed out at DMK’s T. R. Baalu, asking for support from the NDA’s Venugopal. He lashed out at North Chennai over the asset declaration made by DMK’s Kalanidhi Veerasamy and extended support to

AIADMK's Edappadi K. Palaniswami came down heavily against the DMK government before a huge gathering at Kanchipuram. Udhayanidhi Stalin and other star campaigners from his party were visible, canvassing for votes for their party candidates.

The enthusiastic party workers, however, braved the heatwave to remain engaged in rigorous campaigning, as the activities used to start in the early hours of the morning and go on until late at night. While the grassroots workers ensured the delivery of pamphlets to every home, the candidates would cover entire constituencies by greeting voters standing in open jeeps.

In South Chennai, the BJP's Tamilisai Sondararajan and DMK's Tamilachi Thangapandian engaged in one-upmanship at every rally, promising better representation in Parliament. At the same time, the BJP emphasized the presence of the Treasury bench. DMK tried to advocate for the cause of the INDIA coalition and AIADMK.

With the poll fever building up, Tamil Nadu is now on tenterhooks for a high-stakes electoral battle as the contenders engage one another on who could be the real custodian of the interests of the Tamils ahead of the polls.