What were some of the main issues brought up in the pre-election campaigns of the parties?

The key focus of the DMK’s campaign was on its “battle” to get funds from Centre including for flood relief. Stalin and his party leaders said not a rupee was given by the Centre and Nirmala Sitharaman’s claim of Rs 5,000 crore central assistance to tackle the situation arising out of floods was actually the state’s own borrowing from banks merely channelled through the Union government. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of CM Stalin and a Minister crisscrossed the state, held roadshows and targeted the BJP on a slew of issues including the “Madurai AIIMS being a non-starter.” When Udhayanidhi repeatedly attacked PM as “29 paisa Modi” as the Centre returned only “29 paisa out of every one rupee paid as tax” to the Union government by the state, Annamalai countered saying no other state received as much funds as Tamil Nadu from the Centre and if he did not stop the 29 paisa jibe, his party will refer to him as ‘Ganja Udhayanidhi” as the contraband is “available widely” in the state.

The main opposition party’s campaign was steered by Palaniswami, former CM and leader of opposition who took on the ruling DMK over every single issue that mattered, including alleged collapse of law and order and drug menace.

When Annamalai claimed AIADMK would disappear following polls, without losing cool, Palaniswami in a repartee said voters will teach them a lesson and no force could touch the party that has stormed several struggles

On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi made 9 trips to the state this year, undoubtedly a first in the state's history. He denounced the DMK-Congress over alleged corruption and ‘parivarvad’ politics. 

The PM also brought up the Katchatheevu issue prominently. He sought to pin down the DMK-Congress saying fishermen now pay the price for their betrayal while the ruling party retorted by posing questions on "Chinese incursions."

Modi also dwelt on the drug menace, following the arrest of expelled office-bearer of the DMK, Jaffer Sadiq by the NCB and the threat to “eradicate Sanatana Dharma." 

(PTI)