Jayalalithaa announces four candidates for Rajya Sabha elections

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa on Thursday fielded four candidates for Rajya Sabha polls slated for February 7. The biennial elections to the Upper House is necessitated following the completion of terms of six sitting members in April.

The candidates are S Muthukrishnan (Trinelveli city district secretary), N Chinnathurai (party's young men and women forum), L Sasikala Pushpa (party's women's wing secretary and Vijila Sathyanand (party's Trinelveli city district women's wing secretary), said an official statement.

Jayalalithaa said the party would extend support to the CPM candidate, following requests from the party. On Tuesday, senior CPM leaders led by state secretary G Ramakrishnan called on Jayalalithaa at her Kodanad retreat and sought her support. AIADMK high command, party sources say, has chosen the candidates from the south to make inroads into the region.