DMK Announces Candidates For By-Elections

Chennai: Dispelling speculations of the DMK not fielding candidates to the October 6 by-elections to the Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) Assembly constituencies that fell vacant due to the resignation of the newly elected representatives belonging to the AIADMK to move over to the TVK, the party announced its candidates for not only the two seats in the State but also the one in Puducherry that was vacated by the Union Territory’s Chief Minister N Rangasamy who was elected from two constituencies.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who responded immediately to the announcement of the election by calling for applications from aspirants to the two seats and reportedly told his party leaders that the constituencies basically ‘belonged’ to the AIADMK and should be reclaimed, is expected to name the candidates on Thursday.

The DMK that called for a meeting with senior leaders at Anna Arivalayam named I Paranthaman for Madurantakam, S Sukanya for Dharapuram and Sethu Selvan for Thattanchavady in Puducherry, while the TVK will be coming out with the names only on Thursday.

Most probably the TVK will nominate the same candidates who gave up their seats to switch over to the party - Maragatham Kumaravel for Madurantakam and P Sathyabhama for Dharapuram.

While the TVK hopes to win the by-elections on the strength of the personal popularity of the two candidates in their constituencies, the AIADMK will strive hard to retain their seats by nominating alternative popular party functionaries in the respective constituencies that had voted for the party in the past.

Four other AIADMK candidates, who also switched loyalties to the ruling TVK, are waiting to contest again in the by-elections whenever they are called.