C. Ponnaiyan, former finance minister and a prominent politician of MGR days, is now back in the limelight as the AIADMK candidate in labour dominated Saidapet constituency in south Chennai. He was an MLA in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 2001 Assemblies and a prominent old war horse till 2001.
The leader, who fell out with the AIADMK top brass, was dropped during 2006 Assembly elections. But in two years, he regained his stature and was often spotted at the AIADMK party headquarters.
Strengths: Ponnaiyan, a native of Tiruchengode, is a known face among party old timers and can bring the different factions of the ruling party together in Saidapet, where heavyweights mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy and local MLA Senthamilan reside.
Weakness: The constituency has mostly elected the DMK MLAs in the past including DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. This election DMK’s former Mayor M. Subramanian is likely to be pitted against the AIADMK veteran. Ma Su is popular among locals.
X-factor: Saidapet made headlines as the constituency suffered severe damages in the recent Chennai floods.
(Compiled by C.S.Kotteswaran)
