‘Tiruchi’ N. Siva is the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)’s candidate for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, party president M. Karunanidhi said on Friday.
Earlier, the DMK, keen on including the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in its alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, was open to the idea of offering the seat to the party. Mr. Siva represented the DMK in the Rajya Sabha between 2000 and 2002 and again between 2007 and 2013.
The Election Commission announced the schedule for the polls to the six seats from Tamil Nadu. If required, the polls will take place on February 7. The DMK has 23 members in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. It can also count on the support of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, which has two MLAs, and that of the Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT). Even though the PT has two members in the House, one of them has gone against the party line by calling on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The possibility of five MLAs of the Congress supporting the DMK candidate cannot be ruled out, as Union Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad called on Mr. Karunanidhi last week, signalling the national party’s positive disposition towards the DMK.
This calculation will secure the DMK candidate 31 votes and his victory chances appear bright even if the DMDK enters the fray.
