Tamil Nadu polls: Know your candidates
Cuddalore is gearing up for the May 16 polls with 2.31 lakh voters including 1.18 women electorates.
After being mauled by Cylone Thane in 2011 and ravaged by December floods,
disaster-struck Cuddalore is now gearing up for the May 16 polls with 2.31 lakh
voters including 1.18 women electorates.
AIADMK - M. C. Sampath
The ruling AIADMK has retained the 58-year-old sitting MLA and state minister M. C. Sampath for the economically weak constituency. The B. Sc graduate is a local resident aware of social issues and civic issues.
Strengths
Due to his state minister profile, Sampath enjoys party cadres support without any dissent. The local businessman with money power is displaying a high decibel campaign.
Weaknesses
Suffers anti incumbency in flood-hit pockets. Naam Thamizhar Katchi candidate actor turned politician Seeman has been targeting the minister for not developing the disaster prone Cuddalore.
Naam Thamizhar Katchi - Seeman
The fledgling pro Tamil party has fielded party chief coordinator Seeman as the chief minister candidate and his presence in the constituency as added VIP status to the backward district.
Strengths
Backed by young party cadres, Seeman has been targeting both the DMK and AIADMK. His campaign is simple and enjoys the advantage of targeting both the DMK and AIADMK facing corruption charges.
Weaknesses
The campaigner of Tamils for Tamil Nadu is a green horn and has to taken on both the AIADMK and the DMK, which enjoys vote bank.
DMK - Pugalenthi
DMK has fielded its local resident Pugalenthi.
Strengths
He is prominent personality among the local resident and is backed by the party youth wing members. Handpicked by DMK leader Stalin, he is now hyper active in the seat.
Weaknesses
In 2011 polls, Pugalenthi lost the seat to AIADMK's M C Sampath by a margin of 33678 votes. The DMK candidate has to overcome the campaign of AIADMK and Seeman.
X-factor The Viuduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi led by Thirumavalavan and PMK of Dr Ramadoss have considerable votes in the constituency and will reduce the winning mar gin making it a very close fight.
(Compiled by C.S. Kotteswaran)