In a bid to contain discontent among senior party leaders over the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Thursday listed the criteria adopted for selection. In a statement, he said, “I was not able to fulfil the wishes of selfless senior partymen as I had to consider the allies’ demands too.”
He added that party’s senior leader and deputy general secretary Durai Murugan wanted his son to be fielded in Vellore. His wish could not be fulfilled as the Indian Union Muslim League, a long-time ally, wanted the same constituency.
Explaining that senior partymen such as S.S. Palanimanickam and sons of other senior leaders could not be accommodated in the list of candidates, Mr. Karunanidhi said nine of the sitting MPs who had performed well were not given another chance to contest.
Age and other such factors were considered while choosing candidates.
