In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, candidates of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its alliance partners have intensified outreach efforts among Christian religious leaders, holding a series of meetings across Chennai and its suburbs to seek electoral support.
As part of this campaign, DMK candidates met Paul Francis Ravichandran, Bishop of the Church of South India (CSI), at the Madras Diocese office located on Cathedral Road in Chennai. During the meeting, the candidates received blessings from the bishop. Among those present were Saidapet candidate and Minister Ma. Subramanian, Madhavaram candidate S. Sudharsanam, Perambur candidate R.D. Sekar, Mylapore candidate Mayilai T. Velu, T. Nagar candidate Raja Anbazhagan, and R.K. Nagar candidate J.J. Ebenezer, as reported in Dinakaran.
In a separate interaction held at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine Church in Tambaram, DMK alliance candidates met A. Neethinathan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu, and sought his blessings. Participants in this meeting included Alandur candidate and Minister T.M.O. Anbarasan, Tambaram candidate R.S. Krithikadevi, Pallavaram candidate Anagai T. Murugesan of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Sriperumbudur (SC) candidate Selvaperunthagai of the Indian National Congress, Thiruporur candidate Panneerdas of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Chengalpattu candidate M.K.T. Karthik Dhandapani.
Continuing the outreach, DMK candidates also met Paul Dhinakaran, founder of the Christian organisation Jesus Calls, at Raja Annamalaipuram in Chennai to seek his support. Those present at this meeting included Minister P.K. Sekarbabu (Harbour), T. Velu (Mylapore), Tamizhan Prasanna (Egmore – SC), Karthik Mohan (Villivakkam), A.B. Poornima (Ambattur), and K.S. Ravichandran (Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar – SC). Member of Parliament Wilson was also in attendance.
#தேர்தல்Clicks | CSI, RC பேராயர்கள் மற்றும் Jesus Calls நிறுவனர் பால் தினகரனைச் சந்தித்து திமுக கூட்டணி வேட்பாளர்கள் ஆதரவு திரட்டினர்!#SunNews | #Christianity | #DMK | #Chennai pic.twitter.com/lbSDRikSlz
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) April 9, 2026
During these interactions, the bishops and Paul Dhinakaran conveyed their full support to the DMK alliance, as candidates continued coordinated efforts to consolidate backing from influential Christian religious institutions ahead of the elections.
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