The IUML and the DMK have named candidates for Vellore and Arakkonam constituencies, respectively. Sitting MP Abdul Rahman (54) is the Vellore candidate who is contesting the seat for the second term in succession.
A native of Muthupet in Thiruvarur in Pudukottai district, Rahman is a postgraduate in economics from Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchy. He married Ruhaiya Beevi in 1985 and the couple has two sons and a daughter.
After being elected in 2009, Rahman was nominated as a member in the Committee on Information Technology and later the Library Committee of the government. He loves reading and likes to play ball-badminton. He has travelled to other countries. Speculation was rife that the party might look for fresh candidates. However, the IUML finally announced Abdul Rahman as the candidate.
The DMK has named a newcomer N R Elango, as the party candidate for the Arakkonam constituency. His candidature has come as a surprise to most of the senior partymen here. The 57-year old Elango belongs to Mudaliyar community and is a senior advocate and a native of Sholinghur. His father R N Rangathan was Sholinghur MLA representing DMK between 1967 and 71 but joined AIADMK when MGR founded the party. He was also nominated as the district organiser of the AIADMK. Elango has been specialising in corruption case.
Elango is married to Aruna and they have a son and daughter, both school students.