The victory of DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in all the four Assembly constituencies facing byelections, including Tirupparankundram, is assured since people want the present AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu to go, said DMK deputy general secretary I. Periyasamy.
Addressing the media after the filing of nomination by P. Saravanan, the party’s candidate for Tirupparankundram, here on Thursday, he said it was certain that DMK president M.K. Stalin would become the Chief Minister after the election results are announced on May 23. Similarly, he said that Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister.
It was evident from the overwhelming support the alliance was already receiving from the public everywhere, he said.
Earlier, the party workers took out a procession from Thirunagar towards the office of the Returning Officer. Dr. Saravanan filed his nomination papers accompanied by Mr. Periyasamy, DMK Madurai South district secretary M. Manimaran, and leaders from coalition parties.
He later told the reporters that his primary focus, if elected, would be to address issues related to basic amenities in the constituency. Stating that he would strive for holistic development of Tirupparankundram, he expressed hope that the party would win by a huge margin.
It can be noted that Dr. Saravanan unsuccessfully contested the last byelection in November 2016, which was won by AIADMK’s A.K. Bose. However, he challenged the election of Mr. Bose by raising suspicion over the genuineness of late general secretary of AIADMK Jayalalithaa’s fingerprint present on his nomination papers since she was hospitalised at that time.
Madras High Court recently ruled in his favour, setting aside Mr. Bose’s election. However, Mr. Bose passed away in August 2018.
Dr. Saravanan, who runs a hospital in Madurai, has listed in his affidavit that he has one criminal case pending against him, which relates to the alleged use of expired stent for a patient. While he initially filed a case against the supplier of the stent, the supplier later preferred a complaint against the doctor.
Apart from him, his wife S. Kanimozhi also filed the nomination on Thursday as the alternative or replacement candidate for DMK.
