Communist parties have announced their candidates for Palani, Dindigul and Oddanchatram in Dindigul district and Periyakulam in Theni district for the May 16 Assembly election on Monday. The CPI(M) is contesting in Dindigul for the fourth consecutive time. Balabarathi was the party’s MLA thrice in 2001, 2006 and 2011.
This year it has fielded its district secretary M. Pandi to try his luck in Dindigul, its bastion. In the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, he was defeated by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rival M. Udayakumar..
He was the DYFI district secretary and State treasurer and also served as secretary of farmers’ association and cane growers’ association.
Former Palani Municipal Chairman V. Rajamanickam has been given the first chance to contest from Palani. He will face DMK district secretary I.P. Senthil Kumar. He was the Municipal Chairman in 2006.
CPI(M) sitting MLA A. Lazar (68) has been named again for Periyakulam. He is a State executive member and State president of All India Farmers’ Association.
CPI candidates
The CPI has fielded its district secretary K. Santhanam (51) of Dindigul, a debutant, in Oddanchatram to take on DMK candidate R. Chakkarapani.
He had served as State secretary of youth wing.
