The DMK is opting for a mix of experience and youth as it puts together a list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.
On Monday, the party completed interviews with aspirants for the Lok Sabha polls. Over 900 candidates sought tickets for all the 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
“Certainly, we will give importance to youth and new faces while keeping in mind the role played by seniors,” said DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, who has already revamped the youth wing by implementing the age limit for organisers and deputy organisers.
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He has also assiduously kept away close family members of senior leaders from assuming positions in the youth wing.
The party has now evolved various criteria before zeroing in on a candidate. It has selected candidates who have the wherewithal to take on their political rival, wards of senior leaders to honour loyalty, and new faces with clean image and standing in their field besides a number of sitting MPs.
From Arakkonam, the party is keen on fielding N.R. Elango, well-known Madras High Court advocate, who had taken up cases for many senior DMK leaders.
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Former Union Minister S. Jagathrakshagan, who won the Arakkonam constituency in the past, may get Sriperumbudur constituency, as the sitting MP and former Minister T.R. Baalu has decided to contest from Thanjavur.
Former Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian, a Stalin loyalist, is being considered for South Chennai, while sitting MP T.K.S. Elangovan will be retained for North Chennai. Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran will once again contest from Central Chennai.
A. Raja, former Telecom Minister, will enter the fray in The Nilgiris. He had won the previous elections in 2009 from here.
C. Devadoss Sundaram, a realtor and former Trustee of Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple, is being considered for Tirunelveli, even though there is stiff resistance from party seniors.
Kadir Ananth, son of former minister Duraimurugan and K. Jagan, son of Tuticorin district secretary N. Periasami, have sought tickets to contest from Vellore and Tuticorin constituencies respectively. Though another former Minister Suba Thangavelan has approached the high command for a ticket for his son, it is not sure whether he will succeed.
Pollachi, which is no longer a reserved constituency after delimitation, may go to former Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy. In Namakkal, the sitting MP Gandhi Selvan is close to securing the seat.
Talking to reporters, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said seat-sharing talks with the allies would be over in two days.
Actors J.K. Ritheesh, representing the Ramanathapuram constituency, and Napolean, elected from Perambalur constituency, who are supporters of former Minister M.K. Alagiri, did not seek re-nomination.