New Delhi, April 16 -- The Madurai Central constituency assumes key significance as a high-stakes urban battleground in southern Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.

Madurai is the cultural capital of the state; winning the "Central" seat provides a symbolic victory over the entire southern region.

The constituency is set for a significant contest, featuring incumbent Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) of the DMK, who is seeking a third consecutive term, anchoring his campaign on his administrative record as Tamil Nadu's Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services and his advocacy for the "Dravidian Model" of governance.

Challenging him is the actor and filmmaker Sundar C, representing the Pudiya Neethi Katchi (PNK) ...