VELLORE: Even as the major Dravidian parties are yet to announce their candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections, speculations are doing rounds here that the parties are not likely to experiment with many new faces this time.
After the delimitation, Vellore district has earned an additional Assembly segment, from 12 to 13. Natrampalli and Pernambut have been merged with the nearby constituencies paving way for Ambur, Jolarpet and Kilvaithunankuppam constituencies. The number of reserved constituencies has also increased from two to three now. Gudiyattam and Kilvaithunankuppam have become reserved in addition to Arakkonam, which has been a reserved constituency since 1977.
As Arakkonam was held by the Puratchi Bharatham party in the last election, which has now deserted the DMK camp, speculations are high that Arakkonam is much sought after by Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Congress.
DMK insiders indicated that the party may allot both Vellore and Sholinghur to Congress this time also. Congress party sources added that by all possibilities the sitting MLAs Gnanasekaran and Arul Anbarasu may be fielded once again, though many new faces have expressed desire to jump into the fray. It looks like DMK is serious on fielding the sitting MLAs Durai Murugan and R Gandhi in Katpadi and Ranipet respectively.