Having been allotted one seat in the Bharatiya Janata Party camp, the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK), floated by the SRM Group of Institutions founder T.R. Pachamuthu, is mostly likely to contest from the Perambalur Parliamentary constituency. For the IJK which had contested alone in the 2011 Assembly elections and forfeited deposits in the segments it fought, this would be its maiden fight in the Lok Sabha polls with the support of a national party – BJP.
Although an official announcement is to be made soon, party sources here indicate that the IJK was mostly likely to contest from the Perambalur Lok Sabha seat which encompasses six Assembly constituencies, including four falling under the neighbouring Tiruchi district. While the possibility of Mr.Pachamuthu entering the fray in Perambalur is rife, things would become clear in a few days when official declaration is expected, party sources said.
The district unit of the party is keen that Mr.Pachamuthu, a well-known face in Perambalur, Tiruchi, and neighbouring districts, contest from the constituency.
The AIADMK, already marching ahead in campaign, and its arch rival the DMK have nominated R.P.Marutharajaa and Seemanur Prabhu respectively, both belonging to the Muthuraja community, a dominant group among the mix of communities in Perambalur. The constituency which has two reserved Assembly segments in Thuraiyur and Perambalur also has considerable presence of Udayars in certain pockets including Lalgudi – another Assembly constituency falling under the Perambalur Lok Sabha seat. By fielding its candidate P.Parkkavan Pachamuthu from the Lalgudi Assembly segment in the 2011 polls, the IJK polled a little over 14,000 votes. Actor D. Napoleon of the DMK won the constituency in 2009 by defeating his nearest rival K.K.Balasubramanian of the AIADMK . With the two Dravidian parties expected to go all out in the coming days, the possible entry of the IJK may make the poll battle lively in this backward constituency.
