Chennai: Two women and two Dalits figure in the list of nine Marxist candidates announced by the party state secretary G. Ramakrishnan here on Monday.
“One of the Dalit candidates, K. Samuvel Raj, will contest in Virudhunagar, which is not a SC reserved constituency,” Ramakrishnan said while stressing that his party had chosen its candidates based purely on their service to society and commitment to party ideals. Social activist Samuvel Raj, a full time party worker, will take on firework factory owner D. Radhakrishnan (AIADMK) and DMK senior S. Rethinavelu. Among the women candidates is well-known rights activist U. Vasuki, who quit a cushy bank job to plunge into selfless socio-political work.
She heads the AIDWA and was in the forefront of the exposure of sexual abuse in the infamous Premananda ashram. She has been fielded in North Chennai that has considerable Left presence. The other Marxist candidate is Tamilselvi contesting in Thanjavur. She is known for her anti-liquor campaign and efforts to ensure that the workers got properly paid for the MNREGA works in her district.
