V. Maran, a 36-year-old Salem-based businessman, who hails from a family of former MLAs of Yercaud, was on Friday named the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)’s nominee for the by-election to be held in the constituency on December 4.
Mr. Maran, who is involved in the business of transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, has been with the DMK for the last five years. Two of his uncles – V. Chinnasamy and P.R. Thirugnanam – were elected from the constituency in 1967 and 1984, according to the DMK candidate. Mr Chinnasamy belonged to the DMK and Mr Thirugnanam, the Congress.
Nineteen years ago, the Congress had an electoral tie-up with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Mr. Thirugnanam had defeated the DMK’s K. Manickam by a margin of over 30,000 votes.
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Announcing his party’s move to field Mr. Maran, DMK president M. Karunanidhi told reporters at the party headquarters here that the decision was made after a panel of senior functionaries of the party interviewed 42 persons, including five women.
The DMK’s overtures to the Communist Party of India and CPI (Marxist), by sending letters of request for their support, were rebuffed.
The by-election has been necessitated by the death of the AIADMK legislator C. Perumal in July.
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