BJP fields ex-AIADMK minister's son-in-law against Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: BJP today fielded the son-in-law of a former AIADMK minister against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the RK Nagar constituency for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls on May 16.

In its fourth candidates' list released for the election, BJP nominated M N Raja for RK Nagar and state secretary K T Raghavan for Kolathur, from where DMK leader M K Stalin is seeking a successive term.

Raja is the son-in-law of former AIADMK Minister Aranganayakam, BJP sources said, adding he was heading the party's Unorganised Workers' Wing.

In the list released by Secretary of BJP's Central Election Committee, J P Nadda, a total of 27 persons including Raja and Raghavan were named.

In its previous three lists released covering over 150 seats, BJP has fielded senior leaders including its National Secretary H Raja (T Nagar), state President Tamilisai Sounderrajan (Virugambakkam) and Vice-President Vanathi Sreenivasan ( Coimbatore South).

Meanwhile, the party will release its manifesto for the coming polls on Thursday, a senior leader said.

Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari is slated to release the party's election manifesto, BJP state Treasurer S R Sekar told PTI.