Coimbatore: AIADMK is for the first time contesting the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, but the party is expected to face resistance in its bid from DMK, Left outfits and a new front led by BJP.
The constituency, which has two dominant communities, had extended its support to the late MG Ramachandran after he formed AIADMK by parting ways with parent party DMK in 1972.
An interesting multi-cornered contest is on the cards between AIADMK, DMK with allies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Puthiya Tamizhagam and IUML, Left parties and a new front led by BJP in the company of DMDK, PMK, MDMK, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi and IJK.
AIADMK has fielded a lawyer, Nagaraj from the seat, which, after delimitation in 2009, comprises the Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South, Kaundampalayam, Singnallu, Sulur and Palladam Assembly segments. Advocate Ganeshkumar of DMK, CP Radhakrishnan of BJP, R Prabhu of Congress and sitting MP, PR Natarajan of CPI(M) are also in the race for power in this industrial hub, which has a considerable number of labourers.
AIADMK had in 1974 wrested the Coimbatore West Assembly seat from DMK in a by-election. The party, however, supported the CPI candidate, who won the seat in 1977, while Congress, in alliance with AIADMK, won in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In 1980 and 1996, DMK candidates won the seat, while in 1998 and 1999, BJP won in alliance with AIADMK and DMK, respectively. BJP managed to consolidate its base in the aftermath of serial bomb blasts in 1998 that claimed 58 lives during the visit of its leader LK Advani for electioneering. In 2004, it was the turn of CPI to secure the seat, while CPI(M) won in 2009 as an AIADMK ally.
