After keeping opponents and partymen guessing for several days, the ruling All India NR Congress president and Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy released the first list of 21 candidates for the May 16 Assembly polls.
The three-time Chief Minister Mr. Rangasamy will contest in Indira Nagar constituency. In 2011, he had contested from Indira Nagar and Kadirgamam.
Senior politician and Speaker of Assembly V.Sabapathy alias Kothandaraman will contest again in his home constituency- Ariyankuppam. Ministers N.G. Pannirselvam and T.Thiagarajan will be fielded in Ozhukarai and Bahour constituencies .
Another Minister P.R. Siva has been allotted Tirunallar constituency while senior Ministers M. Chandrakasu and P. Rajavelu were left out in the first list. However, Mr. Chandrakasu’s daughter Priyanka has been given a chance to contest from his constituency, Nedunkadu.
In a surprise move, estranged Congress MLAs- former Minister Theni C. Djeacoumar and P.R.N. Thirumurugan have been announced as AINRC candidates to Villianur and Karaikal (North) constituencies.
Sitting nominated MLAs AINRC general secretary V.Bhalan and party secretary J.Ayyanar are the candidates for Mudaliarpet and Kadirgamam. Deputy Speaker T.P.R. Selvame is to contest again in Mannadipet. The AINRC president also declared G. Nehru alias Kuppusamy as a candidate in Orleanpet taking a lenient view of his record of being critical of Government functioning in the past.
Addressing reporters here, Mr. Rangasamy declared that the party has no any hesitation to contest alone.
He said, “During last five years, we achieved several things and fulfilled all promises made during last Assembly polls. We rendered transparent, corrupt-free administration. Those measures will bring victory to us again.” He added that the second list of candidates would be released soon and all candidates would file nominations before Friday.
