The sudden removal of AIADMK candidate from Palayamkottai, A. Thamizh Magan Hussein, did not come as a surprise to the cadre.
After Mr. Hussein — an Urdu-speaking Muslim from Nagercoil — was fielded, a few hundred fax messages went out to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa urging her to drop Mr. Hussein and field a local instead. Undeterred by this, Mr. Hussein commenced his campaign. Though he did not have the wholehearted support of the local party functionaries, the high command’s recognition of Mr. Hussein compelled them to accompany the candidate as he went about his campaign. The ‘fax war’, however, continued, ultimately costing Mr. Hussein the candidature.
The new candidate, S.K.A. Hyder Ali, 58, is the current chairman of the Melapalayam Zone of Tirunelveli Corporation. He has been elected to the Corporation Council thrice — in 2001, 2006 and 2011.
