The PMK and the DMDK, both allies of the AIADMK, are hoping to make an impact in the Lok Sabha election though they have been allotted some constituencies outside comfortable political terrain.
The DMDK on Monday announced that its deputy general secretary L. K. Sudhish will contest from Kallakurichi, former Deputy Leader of Opposition Alagapuram R Mohan Raj from Chennai North, R. Alagarsamy from Virudhunagar and V. Elangovan from Tiruchi.
The PMK will be locked in a straight fight with the DMK in six constituencies and its ally VCK in Villupuram (SC) on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. The party has been given Dindigul in south Tamil Nadu.
The decision to allot the Dindigul seat to the PMK has not gone down well with a section of local AIADMK leaders. However, PMK candidate Jothi Muthu remains hopeful.
Serial entrepreneur
“The PMK may not be as strong in Dindigul as in north Tamil Nadu. But [with] our leader Anbumani Ramadoss’ image as an intelligent politician and with the help of this mega alliance, I am sure we can win the seat,” he told The Hindu.
Curiously, the party has fielded serial entrepreneur Sam Paul from Chennai Central constituency, where he will take on DMK heavyweight and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
Mr. Paul said he preferred the constituency as he grew up there. “We will be fighting the election based on the poll manifesto that we recently made public. I will also be seeking votes based on the fact that Parliament needs educated people,” he said.
“I worked with thousands of people during the December 2015 Chennai flood relief work and a vast majority of them will be working with me on the campaign,” he claimed.
PMK legal wing secretary Balu said, “It is common for political parties to seek a constituency from Chennai and we have fielded a strong candidate. Dindigul is one of the districts where we are the strongest in the South. So, we are contesting there. When you are in an alliance, you will have to contest a few seats in constituencies where you aren’t the strongest.” The party has fielded A. Vaithialingam in Sriperumbudur.
As for the DMDK, Mr. Sudhish said the party got all the constituencies it had sought. “Kallakurichi is among the constituencies where I have travelled extensively. I’m very familiar with the constituency. I’m confident of winning,” he said.
While Mr. Alagarsamy has held various posts in actor Vijayakant’s fan clubs and in the party in Madurai and Kanniyakumari, Dr. Elangovan was fielded from the Dharmapuri Assembly constituency in 2016 and from the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Maanila Congress said N.R. Natarajan would be its candidate for the Thanjavur constituency.
