Chennai: Ending `the suspense, Congress on Sunday evening announced Karti Chidambaram, son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram as its candidate for Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency.
Karti Chidambaram is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI in several cases, including one relating to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving foreign funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore when his father was the Finance Minister. Even his international travel is limited. The Supreme Court had allowed Karti to travel abroad with certain conditions, including that he would not open or close any bank account abroad.
A Delhi court has extended till March 25 the interim protection to Karti from his arrest as well as that of his father in the Aircel-Maxis scam cases filed by the CBI and the ED.
His name was announced in the ninth Congress list on Sunday. He will take on BJP National secretary H Raja. The first list of candidates for Tamil Nadu, released after midnight on Saturday, announced eight candidates out of the nine seats allocated to the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls in the DMK alliance.
In 2014 he unsuccessfully contested from the Sivaganga constituency. Chidambaram had represented this seat seven times since 1984. Chidambaram won very narrowly in 2009 so much so Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to call him 'recounting minister.'
Earlier in the day, TNCC president. K. S. Alagiri told reporters that there was a delay in announcing the names in 40 constituencies across the country because AICC president Rahul Gandhi has taken a policy decision that not more than one person in a family should be given a position. And in these 40 constituencies, the kin of Congress leaders have given applications for tickets.
Alagiri said AICC leadership was discussing with the 40 Congress leaders about their kins' applications and a decision would be announced later in the day. It must be pointed out that in the top echelons of AICC, its president is Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka is serving as general secretary.
