AIADMK announces candidates; Jayalalithaa to seek re-election from R K Nagar
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will seek re-election from Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency in Chennai and her second-in-command O Panneerselvam will contest from his pocket borough in Bodinayakkanur in Theni district according to the list of candidates released by the AIADMK for 227 constituencies.
Allotting seven constituencies for alliance partners that include actors Sarath Kumar and Karunas, Jayalalithaa refused tickets for seven sitting ministers including P Mohan, Madhavaram V Moorthy, T K M Chinnaiah and Abdul Rahim.
While Jayalalithaa was re-nominated from R K Nagar constituency, from where she entered the Assembly after Karnataka High Court acquitted her in the disproportionate assets case, Mr Panneerselvam will contest from Bodinayyakanur while another senior colleague Natham Vishwanathan has been fielded from Athur in Virudhunagar district instead of his traditional constituency Natham.
By announcing candidates for 227 constituencies and allotting the remaining 7 segments to various alliance partners, AIADMK has shut its doors on Tamil Maanila Congress, which was hoping to join the ruling alliance.
Jayalalithaa also sprung a surprise by giving tickets to former ministers Senthil Balaji, who is being fielded from Aravakurichi, C V Shanmugam (Villupuram), K P Munusamy (Vepanahalli) and old-timers like Mr Dindigul Sreenivasan and Panruti S Ramachandran. While Mr Sreenivasan will contest from Dindigul, Mr Ramachandran will seek reelection from Alandur in Chennai.
Former Chennai Police Commissioner R Natraj, who joined the party a few years back, is the candidate from Mylapore in Chennai while Ma Foi Pandiarajan, who switched sides from DMDK to AIADMK, has been fielded from Avadi on the outskirts of Chennai. Another former MLA Mr Kalaiarasu, who switched to AIADMK from PMK, is the candidate from Anaikattu.
Jayalalithaa also allotted Triuchendur to actor Sarath Kumar, while Karunaas has been fielded from Thiruvaadaanai in Sivaganga district. Candidates of six parties will also contest in two leaves symbol of the AIADMK.
