The BJP is yet to declare its candidates for two of the eight seats the party is contesting in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha polls. The reason for the delay seems to be a tight competition among party big wigs for the Vellore seat.
Sources said the party is unable to decide on the nominee for the Vellore constituency as two senior women leaders – Tamilisai Soundarajan and Vanathi Srinivasan – are vying for a berth. While the former had staked claim citing her long tenure as in-charge of the district, the latter seem to have the backing of the State BJP president Pon. Radhakrishnan.
While the two leaders are fighting it out within the BJP, a source said A.C. Shanmugam, chief of the New Justice Party, which was one of the first outfits to declare its support to the BJP, is also vying to bag the Vellore constituency.
“He (Mr. Shanmugam) has also met our leaders in New Delhi and urged them to allot the seat to the party. This is why, there is a delay in announcing the candidate,” a senior leader said.
As the contestant for Vellore is yet to be decided, the party is holding back the announcement of the candidate for the other seat, Thanjavur.
