DMK releases list of candidates

CHENNAI: M K Azhagiri, son of DMK Chief and Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, former IT Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, sitting Ministers, A Raja, T R Baalu, S S Palani Manickam and business magnet, S Jagatrakshakan of Accord Group figure among the 21 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections released by the party on Sunday.

This time, the party will be contesting five seats more against 16 contested and won in the 2004 elections. The party has dropped sitting ministers S Raghupathy, Radhika Selvi, Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan besides MP Kuppuswamy who won from North Chennai in 2004 poll.

Azhagiri contesting any election for the first time has not come as a surprise to party and political circles considering his growing clout within the party, especially in southern districts.

He has been fielded for Madurai LS seat, where CPM is expected to take on him in alliance with AIADMK, MDMK, PMK and CPI. Following the big win of DMK in the by election to Tirumangalam assembly constituency, Azhagiri was given a party post as its south zone organising secretary.

As part of the delimitation process, Baalu, who won from South Chennai, has been shifted to the newly created Sriperambadur constituency, where PMK has fielded its senior leader and former railways Minister, A K Murthy. Similarly, A Raja, who won from the reserved Perambalur constituency, has been shifted to the newly created Nilgiris seat.

Dayanidhi Maran has been given his existing Central Chennai seat while R S Bharathi, a long time loyal party leader has been rewarded with the prestigious South Chennai constituency. For the workers dominated North Chennai seat, DMK has nominated T K S Elangovan. CPI is likely to field its State Secretary and former MP, D Pandian for the constituency.
Among others, actor D Napoleon, who was once a MLA from Chennai, will be contesting from Perambalur and another upcoming actor, Ritheesh from Ramanathapuram. Union Minister of State for finance, Palanimanickam will be contesting again from Tanjore and sitting MP and Karur KCP promoter, K C Palanisamy from Karur.

Jagathrakshakan, who runs educational institutions, hotels ( Accord Metropolitan in Chennai) and industries and who recently joined DMK, will be standing from Arkonam where PMK has fielded Minister of State for railways, R Velu.

DMK will also be contesting from Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvalluvar, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Nagapattinam, Pollachi, Namakkal and Kallakurichi.

In the opposition camp, PMK has already announced candidates for the seven seats it is contesting. CPI is expected to release the list today while AIADMK is in the process of finalising the allocation of seats with MDMK and CPM.
Congress is waiting for the list to be released by Delhi high command.