AIADMK’S 1st list of 6 candidates out
CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK on Friday released its first list of six candidates for the April 6 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu ahead of arch-rival DMK and pending conclusion of seatsharing with allies, including the BJP.
The party’s star candidates,chief minister K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam will contest from their respective home constituencies of Edappadi in Salem and Bodinayakanur in Theni districts.
The AIADMK allotted 23 seats to ally PMK days ago, before DMK finalised seat-sharing with Indian Union Muslim League, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
The ruling party, however, is yet to conclude the seat- sharing exercise with BJP and others. The IUML and MMK were allotted three and two seats respectively by the DMK and it gave six segments to the VCK.
Senior leaders D Jayakumar (Fisheries Minister) and C Ve
Shanmugam (Law Minister) have been fielded once again from Royapuram here and Villupuram in northern Tamil Nadu respectively.
MLAS S P Shanmuganathan and S Thenmozhi would face the polls from Srivaigundam and
Nilakottai (Reserved) segments.
Asked about the AIADMK releasing its list ahead of DMK, political analyst Durai Karuna said it was not altogether new as it had happened before, from the time of party founder M G Ramachandran. “By declaring constituencies before the conclusion of seat-sharing exercise, allies cannot demand segments that have been announced,” he said.
“If you look at the community profile of candidates,it is a mix. AIADMK has given a subtle signal of assurance to uphold social justice,” Karuna, also a veteran journalist, said.
The CM and deputy CM are from Gounder and Mukkulathor communities respectively, while Shanmugam is a Vanniyar. Jayakumar represents the fishermen community and Shanmuganathan is Nadar and Thenmozi a Dalit, he said.