Had the debate on replacement government surfaced about two years ago, right in the middle of the five years regime of the AIADMK, DMK would definitely not have been the top contender for the Tamil Nadu throne. Despite the noticeable absence of a strong anti-incumbency wave, unlike the 2011 state elections, DMK stands to lose a lot if they fail to come to power this time.

The opposition gleefully pointed out the lack of development schemes in the state during their election campaign, but the Jayalalithaa-led government buried the noises with a number of attractive welfare schemes.

It was Amma everywhere, and nobody was complaining – Amma Unavagam, Amma Salt, Amma cement, Amma fan, Amma laptops, Amma mixer grinders…Despite the elite crowd writing off the freebies as “anti-development schemes,” the masses weren’t complaining. They loved the huge freebie boxes and everything in it. Admit it, who doesn’t like gifts?

The media and the opposition kicked and screamed about the Chennai floods and Jaya’s arrest in the disproportionate assets case, but the fact remains that people are more than forgiving.

While many felt that history will repeat itself and Jayalalithaa would serve consecutive terms as the Chief Minister, like her mentor, M.G. Ramachandran, the only CM till now to win consecutive assembly elections, the DMK, sprang a surprise with Stalin’s Namakku Namae trip, which not only made a big difference, but gave a huge inroad for the party back in the State.

Stalin had previously failed miserably in making a mark during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, in which the DMK drew a blank. Despite all the hilarious memes that flooded the internet, Stalin’s Namakku Namae turned out to be a morale booster for the party. It helped the DMK regain its momentum in all the 234 constituencies.

The 93-year-old party patriarch, M. Karunanidhi, who did not campaign much during the 2014 elections, surprised everyone by making a whirlwind tour, despite his age and frail health. He however claimed that the physical exertion wasn’t all that bad, thanks to the special campaign vehicle designed very carefully under Stalin’s watchful eyes. However, Karunanidhi, probably the oldest politician in the country, cut his tour short, but compensated for it by touring Chennai during the resting period.

Stalin and Kanimozhi, the duo that successfully organized the World Tamil Conference in 2010, contributed their parts by campaigning in all the constituencies.

“Our leaders had worked very hard in this election, especially Stalin and Kalaignar. We cannot lose from here,” said a nervous party member, when asked about DMK’s prospects in the 2016 elections.

“It was not for nothing that our Thalaivar (Karunanidhi) has put his body and soul in this campaign,” he added.

The whirlwind campaign carried out by Karunanidhi in Thiruvarur, his hometown, and Stalin’s new style of campaigning had certainly given a hope among the party cadre. Yet, the fight is very close, and with all his experience in politics, the party chief is definitely fighting a mental battle in addition to the physical stress of travelling and campaigning.