DMK fields Speaker Appavu again from Radhapuram; gifts ‘unlucky’ Ambasamudram to Congress

The DMK, while retaining the Radhapuram, Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai Assembly segments, has given away Ambasamudram constituency to the Indian National Congress apart from Nanguneri, as the Dravidian party suffered crushing defeat at Ambasamudram in the last three elections since 2011.

The ruling party, as expected, has fielded Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu from Radhapuram Assembly segment, where he won the previous polls in 2021 by a margin of 5,925 votes by defeating I. S. Inbadurai of AIADMK.

After he lost the 2019 polls to Mr. Inbadurai by a wafer thin margin of just 49 votes, Mr. Appavu challenged the outcome in the Madras High Court and then in the Supreme Court following discrepancies in counting of postal ballots. The verdict is pending with the Supreme Court till today even after the postal ballots were counted again under the Court monitoring in October 2019.

Under Section 86 (7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the High Courts are mandated to conclude the trial of an election petition within six months from the date of filing. While this specific statutory time limit applies to the High Court, it does not strictly apply to appeals filed in the Supreme Court and hence the judgment is pending with the apex court since 2019.

Having implemented good number of development projects in his constituency like ₹ 605 crore drinking water scheme for 831 habitations, the second drinking water project costing ₹465 crore for Kalakkad municipality and seven town panchayats, ongoing construction of 1,000 houses for the poor, reconstruction of Valliyoor bus-stand and market, Government Hospital in Valliyoor, ongoing reconstruction of the damaged check-dam at Alanthuraiyar, groynes in the coastal hamlets, revival of the exclusive drinking water scheme for 13 coastal hamlets, sports complex in Vijayapathi near Koodankulam, Additional District Court in Valliyoor etc., Mr. Appavu, who was elected to the Assembly from this segment in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2021, is brimming with confidence of winning this election too.

DMK candidate for Palayamkottai Assembly constituency M. Abdul Wahab.
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Despite resistance and dissatisfaction within the party and former minister T.P.M. Mohideen Khan’s strenuous efforts to get ticket for his granddaughter, a medical doctor, the DMK has reposed its faith in sitting MLA M. Abdul Wahab for Palayamkottai segment again, DMK’s one of the safest constituencies in Tamil Nadu. As his difference of opinion with then Mayor of Tirunelveli Corporation P.M. Saravanan led to the latter’s ouster by the councillors’ no confidence motion, it was speculated that Mr. Wahab would not be given the second chance. But, he has proved the surmises wrong, apparently with the backing of Minister K.N. Nehru, who is in-charge of party affairs in Tirunelveli district.

After DMK’s electoral fortune in Ambasamudram constituency became a ‘hat-trick cropper’ with its candidate and former Speaker R. Avudaiyappan suffering crushing defeats in 2011, 2016 and 2021 polls, the ruling party has now handed over this segment to its senior ally, Indian National Congress. Hence, the Congress candidate will take on AIADMK heavyweight Esakki Subaya, who is quite popular in the constituency for his helping tendency.

Similarly, Nanguneri, being represented by MLA Ruby R. Manoharan of Congress, has also been allotted to the national party, which is going to field again Mr. Manoharan, a well-known builder and down-to-earth politician. In the NDA fold, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam has fielded one Esakki Muthu.

DMK candidate for Tirunelveli Assembly constituency, S. Subramanian.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

After its candidate A.L.S. Lakshmanan lost the poll battle to BJP’s Nainar Nagenthran in 2021, the DMK has now fielded party’s Tirunelveli city district secretary S. Subramanian, an engineering graduate.

DMK candidate for Tenkasi Assembly constituency, Kalai Kathiravan.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

While getting Ambasamudram constituency in Tirunelveli district, the Congress has gifted its Tenkasi segment, which is being represented by its MLA S. Palani Nadar, to the DMK. The ruling party has fielded Kalai Kathiravan, son of DMK leader ‘Anbagam’ Kalai.

DMK candidate for Alangulam Assembly constituency, Paul Manoj Pandian.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The DMK, by giving ticket to sitting MLA of Alangulam P.H. Manoj Pandian, who joined the ruling party a few months ago, has kept its promise.

Kadayanallur has been allotted to the MDMK, where its candidate will contest in DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol as per the agreement. The MDMK is likely to field T.M. Rajendran, party’s deputy general secretary.

DMK candidate for Vasudevanallur Assembly constituency E. Raja .
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Sitting MLA of Sankarankovil (Reserve) E. Raja has been moved to neighbouring Vasudevanallur (Reserve) segment where he will take on BJP’s Ananthan Ayyasamy, party’s Tenkasi district secretary. The Congress has got Sankarankovil (Reserve) segment.

Published – March 28, 2026 06:34 pm IST