MADURAI: Eager to prove their credentials as the alternative to the status quo in Tamil Nadu politics, the Third Front is considering fielding the leaders of the coalition constituents in the upcoming Assembly elections, sources told Express.
The People’s Welfare Alliance and the TMC split 130 constituencies between them on Thursday, with the latter bagging 26 seats. The MDMK got 29 constituencies, while the two Left parties and VCK got 25 each. While the division of seats was on expected lines, with each party appropriating a mixture of strong, moderate and weak constituencies for itself, sources said the alliance partners have decided to field their generals in this battle — in some cases, to take on the tall leaders of the rival fronts.
The VCK, which has the R K Nagar constituency, from where AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is the leading candidate, is considering fielding its leader Thol Thirumavalavan from there. Sources had told Express that the party was also considering him for Kattumannarkoil, one of the strongholds of the party, adding that a final decision was yet to be taken on this.
Yet another constituent leader, CPI State secretary R Mutharasan, is likely to take on DMK president M Karunanidhi, who is seeking re-election from his native Tiruvarur. There is no doubt surrounding the leader of the alliance, DMDK founder Vijayakant, contesting, as he is the chief ministerial candidate of the coalition. He won the last two elections, and was the opposition leader for most part of the outgoing house. According to sources, coalition coordinator and MDMK general secretary Vaiko is likely to face election from either Sattur in Virudhunagar or Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi. The party has pockets of strengths in these two constituencies, which also have a good number of Telugu-speaking voters, who have been supporting the MDMK for years.
Even TMC leader G K Vasan, who is yet to face a direct election, is mulling entering the fray. If decision is finalised, he would face the polls from Papanasam, said sources in the Congress splinter.
The only leader from the six-party Third Front who may not contest is CPM secretary G Ramakrishnan, as his party has a policy of not fielding its State secretaries in election in the normal course of things. The district committees would forward the candidates’ list to the State committee on Friday, when it would be discussed and the final version announced soon afterwards, sources said. Among the second-rung leaders, MDMK deputy general secretary Mallai Sathya is likely to contest from Thiruporur constituency.
Unlike usual negotiations where the alliance leader discusses the matter with individual parties and allocates seats accordingly, the leaders of all coalition partners sat around a table and finalised the deal, sources said, pointing it out as an example of the cohesion between them. There indeed were tough negotiations where more than one party sought the same seat, like in the case of Palayamkottai, which the DMDK, CPM and MDMK eyed, but was bagged by MDMK.
Thiruma May Get R K Nagar
The VCK, which has got the R K Nagar constituency, from where AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is the leading candidate, is considering fielding its leader Thol Thirumavalavan from there. Sources had told Express that the party was also considering him for Kattumannarkoil
Mutharasan to Take on MK?
CPI State secretary R Mutharasan, is likely to take on DMK president M Karunanidhi, who is seeking re-election from his native Tiruvarur. Captain will take a call on his constituency later
Sattur Likely for Vaiko
Vaiko is likely to face election from either Sattur in Virudhunagar or Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi. MDMK has pockets of strengths in these two seats, having good number of Telugu speaking voters
CPI to release list of candidates on april 18
THANJAVUR: The CPI, a constituent of the DMDK-PWA-TMC alliance, will announce its list of candidates for 25 Assembly seats on April 18 during the party’s State council meeting. This was disclosed by C Mahendran, the national council member of CPI, who addressed the media persons in Thanjavur on Thursday.
He said the party’s executive committee will meet on April 17 followed by the State council meet to deliberate upon the list of candidates for the 25 seats. He said that the change parties like DMK and PMK harped on was only about change of a Chief Minister, whereas the political change envisioned by the CPI required the transfer of rights to harness natural resources and human resources from corporate sector to the people.
“We are hopeful that PWA would usher in such a change in the State,” he added. He said change could not be brought overnight, adding that the PWA considered DMDK and TMC as friendly forces to usher in such a change and hence formed the alliance. “The DMDK-PWA-TMC is a winning alliance,” he exhorted.
Seeking a clarification from the Chief Electoral officer Rajesh B Lakhoni about the youth groups formed to monitor the distribution of money by the political parties to voters, he said, “He should come out with details as to how many groups have been formed, the modalities through which the people could complain to them.”
R Thirugnanam, the District secretary of CPI, was also present during the event.