TN Assembly polls: Know your candidates

N.S. Kanimozhi
The opposition DMK has fielded 42-year-old N.S. Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK leader N. V. N. Somu, who is a doctor and works for a corporate hospital. With the local DMK strong man and district secretary J. Anbhazgan shifting to  Chepauk constituency, the top brass of DMK has rewarded Kanimozhi, a party ticket in the high profile constituency.

Strengths: She has been handpicked by DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin and by giving her ticket, the DMK has avoided factionalism within the local heavy weights who were vying for the seat.

Weaknesses: A green horn with less political contacts and lacks popularity. To be successful in T Nagar, one has to have contacts with both high profile traders and  civic welfare associations. Being a novice, she has to learn her political maths and an endemic campaign style that suits the congested and highly polluted T Nagar.

T. Nagar Sathya
AIADMK has fielded its local corporation councillor Sathyanarayanan alias T. Nagar B. Sathya, who recently was elevated as the secretary of South Chennai (North) district unit. He succeeds party MLA V.P. Kalairajan.
 
Strengths: In the past Assembly, Parliament and civic polls T. Nagar had always been rewarding AIADMK candidates and Sathya being a local councillor can connect with public assuring better civic conditions. Being a district secretary, he can make the cadres to work extra on his constituency.

Weaknesses: He succeeds Kalairajan and may face rift within the party. He is not a seasoned and popular politician.

X - Factor: T. Nagar is both a commercial and residential hub with a plethora of civic and infrastructure problems for years. Residents welfare associations play a crucial role in electing MLAs and councillors as civic issues and traffic woes are permanent in the constituency.