Chennai: Principal Opposition DMK, which has fielded a political novice against AIADMK heavyweight TTV Dhinakaran, launched its campaign for the high-stakes by-poll to Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency on Sunday.

DMK General Secretary K Anbhazhagan, while launching the campaign for the bypoll, also inaugurated the party election office at Tondiarpet in Dr R K Nagar in the presence of nominee Marudhu Ganesh.

Addressing supporters and cadre, Mr Anbazhagan, who had approved the candidature of Mr Ganesh since DMK President M Karunanidhi is indisposed, exuded confidence that the party would romp home since there is visible anger against the AIADMK Government.

Mr Marudhu Ganesh, a party functionary who also couples up as a lawyer and journalist, resides in the Dr RK Nagar constituency and is quite popular among the cadres. The DMK’s campaign is expected to gain steam after the filing of nomination ends this week when party working president MK Stalin and other leaders are expected to join electioneering.

With AIADMK votes set to split in three different directions with V K Sasikala and O Panneerselvam factions of the AIADMK and Deepa Jayakumar staking claim to late Jayalalithaa’s legacy, the DMK is hoping to make good gains from the divisions within the ruling party.

Besides flaunting the “accessibility” of its candidate, who is being touted as “son of the soil”, the party is going to town with the Supreme Court verdict on disproportionate assets case that sent Ms Sasikala to jail.