CHENNAI: Possibly shutting the doors for TMC of GK Vasan, TVK led by T Velmurugan and AIFB, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday released the list of candidates for 227 seats, leaving only seven to six allies who would contest on the AIADMK symbol. In neighbouring Puducherry, the AIADMK is contesting in all 30 constituencies.
As expected, Jayalalithaa will seek re-election from RK Nagar constituency in the city. She is scheduled to launch her campaign from RK Nagar on April 9 and continue till May 12 with some intervals.
The AIADMK candidates are likely to be introduced on April 9. Of the 227 candidates, 31 are women.
Of the 150 lawmakers, over 100 sitting MLAs, including 10 ministers, have been denied the ticket. Of the eight DMDK MLAs who have joined the AIADMK recently, Ma Foi K Pandiyarajan alone has been accommodated. Former PMK MLA, who too defected to the AIADMK, has been given ticket.
While AISMK of actor R Sarathkumar, RPI, Mukkulathor Puli Padai, Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai, Tamil Maanila Muslim League got each one seat, Manithaneya Jananayaka Katchi has been given two seats. Of the 27 member State Cabinet, 16 are being fielded while 10 have been left out. Those denied the party ticket are: P Mohan (Rural Industries), P Palaniappan (Higher Education), S Sundararaj (Sports and Youth Welfare), SP Shanmuganathan (Tourism), N Subramanian (Adi Dravidar Welfare), KA Jayapal (Fisheries), N Subramanian (Information Technology), MSM Anandan (Forest), TP Poonachi (Khadi and Village Industries), S Abdul Rahim (BC welfare).
Former DGP R Natraj, who was expelled and re-admitted into the party recently, is fielded from Mylapore. Former Minister Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, keeping a low profile in the party, gets Egmore. The move comes in the wake of reports that the DMK is planning to field his son Parithi Ellamsuruthi in this constituency.
Chennai Deputy Mayor P Benjamin will be contesting from Maduravoyal, Veteran AIADMK functionary JCD Prabhakaran has been pitted against DMK treasurer MK Stalin in Kolathur. Former Assembly Speaker D Jayakumar is the nominee for Royapuram. Present Speaker P Dhanapal has been shifted to Avinashi (SC) from Rasipuram.
Of elderly leaders of the party, former Minister and organising secretary, C Ponnaiyan will be contesting from Saidapet while Panruti S Ramachandran will seek the mandate from Alandur. Significantly, former Transport Minister Senthil Balaji, who has fallen from the grace, has been shifted to Aravakurichi from Karur.
Meanwhile, TVK leader Velumurugan has convened an emergency meeting of party fucntionaries on Tuesday to discuss the latest development.
Know your candidates
Captain’s Ex-Confidant to Contest From Avadi
Ma Foi Pandiarajan, a turncoat from DMDK, has been nominated as AIADMK’s candidate to contest from the Avadi Constituency in the Assembly polls. Pandiarajan, an entrepreneur contested and won from Virudhunagar, his native, on behalf of the DMDK by securing around 1.25 lakh votes (16.3 %) The HR consultant-turned-politician was earlier a close confidant of DMDK leader Vijayakanth and moved out of the party and defected to the AIADMK in June 2013. He was the Director of TN Women Development Corporation Ltd in 2004-06 and was a member of ‘Tamil Nadu Equitable Growth’ Initiative formed by the AIADMK. He would be contesting from Avadi in Tiruvallur.
Former Congress MLA Joins Fray With AIADMK Ticket
M V Omalingam (44), a former Congress MLA, is in the fray as an AIADMK candidate from Karaikal North constituency. In 2006, Omalingam succeeded P R N Thirumurugan with 1,022 votes and became the first MLA from Kottucherry constituency. He later became the Karaikal AIADMK district secretary. Omalingam pursued diploma in civil engineering (DCE) from Annamalai University-Muthaiah Polytechnic College. In 2011 Assembly polls, Omalingam was defeated by P R N Thirumurugan of Congress party in Karaikal North constituency. In 2014, he contested in the 2014 LS elections and lost to AINRC candidate R Radhakrishnan. He is trying his luck again in Karaikal North constituency.
Former DGP Natraj to contest from Mylapore
Former DGP, R Natraj, will be contesting as an AIADMK candidate from the Mylapore constituency. Asked about the opportunity, Natraj told Express, “Previously I was serving the public as a police officer. Now, AIADMK general secretary has given me one more opportunity to serve the people. I am so happy and I thank the party chief.” Natraj was in the news recently as he was expelled from the party. However, he was re-admitted into the party within a couple of days.
Town Panchayat Chief to Contest in Erode West
Chithodu town panchayat president R Varadarajan, 54, will be contesting for the first time from Erode West segment. Varadarajan is a post graduate and belongs to majority Kongu Vellala Goundar community. He held the Chithodu town panchayat chairman post for the second time in succession as he won in 2006 and 2011 polls. He is also a member of the Erode local planning authority. Since joining the party in 1988, he held various posts. He is currently Erode west segment joint secretary.
Doctor to Contest from Periyakulam constituency
Doctor K Karthirkamu (58), M.S. of Poothipuram near Bodi, who belongs to Arunthathiar community and is a staunch supporter of AIADMK will be contesting from Periyakulam Assembly constituency. His wife Jaya Kathirkamu is joint secretary of AIADMK. He has been the vice-president of AIADMK’s medical wing in Theni district for the past 10 years.
Woman Lawyer to Contest in Own Constituency
AIADMK has fielded T Sudha in her own constituency in Mannargudi. The 39-year-old is a lawyer by profession. A party member since 1997, she has been the Mannargudi town secretary of the women’s wing of the AIADMK. She was elected the 26th ward member of Mannargudi municipality in 2006 and the chairperson of the Mannargudi Municipality in 2011.
Farmer to Make Debut in Politics
ASA Rajasekar (51), a farmer, is making his debut in politics by contesting as an AIADMK candidate from Sankarapuram constituency. Rajasekar who is the AIADMK Kallakurichi union secretary, joined the party in 1980. He was elected as the village president of Chellampattu near Chinnasalem in 2001 and 2011.
Lone Woman Candidate from Nagai district
35-year-old N Meena, the youngest of AIADMK candidates in the district, is also the lone woman candidate in the Nagapattinam district, An M.Com graduate and native of Thirukkuvalai, Meena has been serving as the Joint Secretary of AIADMK and also as the chairman of Keelaiyur union. Kizhvelur is primarilly an agrarian constituency and has a large concentration of Dalit agriculture labourers and fishermen.
AIADMK Loyals - First Father, Now Son
S Vetrivel (45), belonging to the Gounder community is the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate for Omalur. Vetrivel is a farmer and also a graduate in English. He is presently the Town Panchayt Chairman of Karupur and president of the Town Committee of the party. Vetrivel’s father was also an AIADMK member, and has served as the town secretary of the party. About 35 per cent of Omlaur voter base is said to be dominated by the Gounder community.
A Fresh Face for AIADMK in Thethakudi
R Giridharan (44), a native of Thethakudi, is making his debut in elections. An advocate, Giridharan has been serving his second consecutive term as president of Thethakudi (North) panchayat since 2006. He joined AIADMK in 2000 and had served as AIADMK students wing secretary and AIADMK youth wing’s deputy secretary in 2002 and 2006 respectively. Hailing from Vanniyar community, Giridharan has also been running educational institutions near Vedaranyam. He was jailed during 2007 for attempting to burn the effigy of DMK chief M Karunanidhi in a protest.