Dr. V. Maitreyan, who has been re-nominated for the third time as the AIADMK candidate to the Rajya Sabha, is a medical oncologist.
The 57-year-old doctor worked between 1982 and 1996 for the Adyar Cancer Institute.
Son of well-known journalist K.R. Vasudevan, who edited Dinamani Kathir , the weekly magazine of Tamil daily Dinamani, Dr. Maitrayen has his political roots in the BJP. He even contested as BJP candidate in South Chennai Lok Sabha constituency, before joining the AIADMK.
He was first elected to Rajya Sabha on an AIADMK ticket in 2002, following a vacancy caused by the death of G.K. Moopanar.
After his first term, which lasted only two years, he was made special representative of Tamil Nadu in Delhi in 2004. He held the post till 2006. He was again nominated to Rajya Sabha in 2007.
Die-hard AIADMK member
Staff Reporter from Tiruchi writes:
A loyal and die-hard AIADMK member since the party’s formation in 1972, 61-year-old T. Rathinavel has come up from the rank and file.
A former MLA, Mr. Rathinavel was district president of the MGR Youth Wing in 1984 and subsequently party’s Tiruchi East district secretary between 1991 and 1996.
He was elected to the Assembly from the Tiruverumbur constituency on the AIADMK ticket in 1991. He, however, lost the by-election held for the Tiruchi –II assembly constituency in 2000.
A post-graduate in history, Mr. Rathinavel has held the posts of state secretary of the Amma Peravai from 1996 to 1999 and was the party’s State organising secretary from 1999 to 2001.
Though a native of Srivilliputhur, he settled down in Tiruchi in 1974. He was appointed the AIADMK’s Tiruchi rural district secretary two months ago.
Reacting to his nomination, Mr. Rathinavel said it was an “opportunity for being a true loyalist of Amma.”
Badaga community
Special Correspondent from Udhagamandalam writes:
K.R. Arjunan is the scion of a well-known planting family at Ketti. If elected, the 48-year-old district secretary of the AIADMK will become the first Rajya Sabha member from the Badaga community. Mr. Arjunan began as Ketti Panchayat 9th ward secretary about two decades ago and was later secretary of MGR Youth Wing, secretary of Coonoor Union and Chairman of Ketti Panchayat.
In addition to being the party’s district secretary, he is also a member of the Managing Committee of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). Mr. Arjunan told The Hindu after his nomination that he would live up to the expectations of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, his party and the people of the district.
Orthopaedician
Special Correspondent from Cuddalore writes:
R. Lakshmanan (41), an orthopaedician by profession and Villupuram north district secretary of the AIADMK, has been serving as the party’s district medical wing secretary. The mantle of district secretary was passed on to him on October 13, 2012, after former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam was made to quit both the ministerial berth and the Villupuram north district secretary post
Staff Reporter from Tuticorin writes:
The AIADMK has announced S. Saravana Perumal (54) State students’ wing secretary, Tuticorin, on Monday as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls. Mr. Perumal, son of the soil, who is also a businessman, began his political career as State youth wing deputy secretary with MDMK during 1995.
He disassociated himself with the MDMK during 1998 and unsuccessfully contested from Tirunelveli assembly constituency as an independent in 2001. Mr. Perumal later joined the AIADMK.
