Madurai: Heirs of long time Congress leaders would like to try their hand at inheriting the lost political legacy in various parts of southern Tamil Nadu. They are seeking tickets for the May 16 elections from constituencies that were once pocket boroughs of the grand old party.
Among those attempting to claim a slice of the political popularity of their fathers are Ramachandran, son of Su Thirunavukkarasar, from Aranthangi and Jayasimha, son of EMS Sudharsana Nachiappan from Sivaganga. Besides, Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress president, Jhansi Rani, who wants to enter the Assembly from Nilakottai, is the granddaughter of late veteran party leader A S Ponnammal, who had won the seat four times.
The AIADMK has been winning in Nilakottai since 2001. In 2011, the seat went to AIADMK ally Puthiya Tamilgam's A Ramasamy. Local Congress leaders feel that Jhansi Rani, who had accompanied her grandmother in the constituency as a girl, could help the party reconnect with the voters. "We are also seeking to contest from Natham constituency, which was also once a Congress stronghold, where the late M Andi Ambalam had won six elections from 1977 to 1996. As the AIADMK shifted the sitting MLA Viswantham to Athoor constituency, we have more of a chance to win in Natham," claims C K Radhakrishana, a Congress functionary from Dindigul.
Fielding Jayasimha from Sivaganga would help regain the party's political base in the entire district, said Y Palaniappan, former district youth Congress president. He said, "Nachiappan's charisma - he always maintained a close rapport with people in the constituency - would enable his son to sail through."
The bid to field Ramachandran in Aranthangi from where Thirunavukkarasar had won six times since 1977 is also aimed at retrieving lost popularity. "We are also seeking ticket at Tiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram, which was also a Congress bastion. Senior Congress leader KR Ramasamy Ambalam had won five times from there till 2006," said S Rajendiran, DCC president, Ramanathapuram.
In Kanyakumari district, where the Congress now holds three seats - Colachel, Killiyoor and Vilavancode - out of its tally of six in the Assembly, two sitting MLAs want to be nominated again. The Killiyoor seat is likely to go to Ashok Solomon, former Nagercoil municipal chairman and a long time loyalist of EVKS Elangovan. Sitting MLA John Jacob has gone with the TMC. Colachel MLA, JG Prince has applied for both Colachel and Vilavancode constituencies.
The Vilavancode MLA S Vijayadharani has also applied, but a senior party leader in the district said the way she fought with the leadership when she was removed from the state Mahila Congress president's post has left a bitter taste. Besides, the people have also started seeing her now as an 'outsider', who is not there with them to solve their problems, the leader said. In Thoothukudi district, the sought after constituencies are Srivaikuntam, Vilathikulam and Ottapidaram (reserved) constituencies where the party has a strong vote base.
"Srivaikuntam is a Congress bastion where many senior party leaders like S Daniel Raj was elected thrice in succession. In Vilathikulam, 7 panchayat presidents belong to Congress party," said R Kamaraj, President DCC, Tuticorin North. Similarly many Congress functionaries expressed willingness to contest from Nanguneri and Vasudevanallur (reserved) in Tiruneveli district. In Virudhunagar district, the Congress functionaries sought tickets for Virudhunagar, Sivakasi and Srivilliputhur (reserved) constituencies; in Madurai district, many sought tickets for Madurai West and Melur constituencies. They also expressed an interest to contest from Cumbum and Andipatti constituencies in Theni district,
