The third front consisting of the DMDK, the TMC and the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) on Thursday completed its constituency identification and allocation exercise for the ensuing Assembly elections after several rounds of negotiations.
The leader of the alliance, the DMDK, has kept away from two high-profile constituencies – R.K Nagar from where AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is seeking re-election and Tiruvarur, the home constituency of DMK president M. Karunanidhi where he is trying his luck for the second time. While the VCK will contest in R.K. Nagar, the CPI has been allotted Tiruvarur.
Except for Madurai South, the CPI (M) and CPI have managed to retain all the constituencies represented by their sitting legislators. The MDMK has been allotted Madurai South, now held by veteran Left leader R. Annadurai.
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Significantly, the VCK, a party with a large Dalit base, will contest in seven general constituencies including R.K. Nagar and Tiruvallur.
The PWF’s constituents seem to have been very conscious about the area of their strength. The VCK list is dominated by constituencies in North Tamil Nadu, whereas the TMC has chosen to test the waters largely in the central and western districts. Interestingly, the TMC will take on the Congress in nine of the 26 constituencies on its list. Sources though said they wanted more constituencies where the Congress is in the fray. “We couldn’t get seats like Karaikudi, Dindigul and a few in Kanyakumari district,” said a leader.
The MDMK has given up Sivakasi, considered its traditional base, while it has chosen to contest in at least six seats in the Chennai region. The DMDK will field its candidate against DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin in Kolathur.
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The parties are expected to announce their candidates in a day or two. The DMDK, meanwhile, released its fourth list of candidates on Thursday.