In a battle for prestige, a political greenhorn will take on rank outsider and fellow son of the soil in a triangular contest here that will gauge the voters' mood of the two year-old K Palaniswami government.
An endorsement or rejection of the ruling party nominee P Raveendranath Kumar could assume significance as he is contesting from his father and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's home turf of Theni.
The next assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled in 2021.
Congress has fielded former union Minister E V K S Elangovan and rival AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran's AMMK is banking on his earlier stint as then Periyakulam MP to spring a surprise against the other two.
It has nominated Thanga Tamil Selvan, a key aide of Dhinakaran, and also one of the disqualified AIADMK MLAs who revolted against Palaniswami in 2017.
Thanga Tamil Selvan had earlier represented Andipatti, an Assembly segment falling under Theni.
Agriculture being the main vocation in the district, drinking water supply, civic amenities, including proper drainage facilities, jobs and raising the height of the Mullaperiar Dam, an inter-state issue involving Kerala, are key demands of the locals.
The contest being a triangular one, the three main contestants are leaving no stone unturned to secure a victory, and embark on a hectic campaign schedule from dawn till the presecribed hours through the day.
Though new to electoral politics, Raveendranath Kumar exudes confidence of winning with much ease in what he termed as "AIADMK's fortress."
Banking on Dhinakaran's previous stint as then Periyakulam MP, the disqualified MLA believes his leader's hard work will pay off, as the AMMK leader "has been to all villages, met a lot of people, and enjoys a good reputation."
However, he shrugs it off, saying he "belongs to all of Tamil Nadu."
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