Overview

• On July 31, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth visited Chief Minister Stalin at his Chennai residence to inquire about his health after a weeklong stay at Apollo Hospital
• The courtesy call was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK minister E.V. Velu and senior DMDK officials
• Vijayakanth insisted the meeting was purely friendly and outlined plans for a statewide campaign from August 3 under the Illam Thedi initiative
• Last month’s dispute over a Rajya Sabha seat exposed strains between DMDK and AIADMK and raised the party’s leverage in 2026 alliance talks
• A recent condolence visit by NTK leader S. Seeman similarly demonstrates minor parties’ use of personal outreach to strengthen ties with the DMK