AIADMK fields largely ‘old faces’; nominates 2 novices in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi districts

While fielding novices in Sankarankovil (Reserved) constituency in Tenkasi district and Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district, the AIADMK has mostly reposed its faith in the old faces that include former minister, MP and MLA for the April 23 Assembly poll.

For Tirunelveli constituency, the AIADMK has fielded its Tirunelveli district secretary 64-year-old Thatchai N. Ganesaraja, a soft-spoken organic farmer, who lost the electoral battle in Nanguneri constituency to Congress candidate Ruby R. Manoharan in the 2021 Assembly elections. Interestingly, he is the elder brother of former Tirunelveli MLA (2006 – 2011) N. Malairaja of DMK.

AIADMK candidate for Tirunelveli Assembly constituency N. Ganesaraja.
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After joining the party in 1982, Mr. Ganesaraja has held various party positions, including Tirunelveli district presidium chairman, Tirunelveli district deputy secretary, party’s general committee member, Tirunelveli district treasurer and vice-chairman of Tamil Nadu State Cooperative Union and chairman of Tirunelveli District Central Cooperative Bank.

Even though he made all-out efforts to get the Tirunelveli ticket in the 2021 polls, Mr. Ganesaraja was fielded only in Nanguneri by the AIADMK that allotted Tirunelveli to BJP. As BJP state president and sitting MLA Nainar Nagenthran has decided to contest from Sattur, reportedly a safer turf for him, Mr. Ganesaraja has been fielded in Tirunelveli.

In Ambasamudram, the AIADMK has chosen sitting MLA and former minister Esakki Subaya, who comfortably defeated former Speaker R. Avudaiyappan in 2011 and 2021. Even though the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inducted Mr. Subaya into her Cabinet as Minister of Law in May 2011, she dismissed him from the ministry in July the same year. She also denied him ticket in the 2016 Assembly polls.

AIADMK candidate for Ambasamudram Assembly constituency Esakki Subbaiah.
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However, Mr. Subaya made a comeback in 2021 to win the Assembly election after Edappadi K. Palaniswami became the party’s general secretary.

The Palayamkottai segment, supposedly DMK’s bastion with large number of teachers, government employees, Christian and Muslim voters, has been given rookie Syed Sultan Samsudeen, an engineering graduate, as the DMK usually fields a Muslim candidate in this constituency. While sitting MLA M. Abdul Wahab is trying to get ticket again, former minister T. P. M. Mohideen Khan, who got elected from this segment in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, is also making efforts to get his granddaughter, a medical doctor, a ticket for Palayamkottai constituency.

AIADMK candidate for Palayamkottai Assembly constituency S. Syed Sultan Samsudeen.
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The AIADMK has nominated in Alangulam Assembly constituency former MP K. R. P. Prabhakaran, who got elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tirunelveli Parliamentary constituency in 2014.

AIADMK candidate for Alangulam Assembly constituency K. R. P. Prabhakaran.
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Interestingly, this constituency is now represented by P. H. Manoj Pandian, son of former Speaker P.H. Pandian, who recently defected to the DMK after being a supporter of O. Panneerselvam for a while. Hence, Mr. Prabhakaran may have to take-on Mr. Manoj Pandian, who is in all likelihood to be fielded again by the DMK.

AIADMK candidate for Tenkasi Assembly constituency, S. Selva Mohandas Pandian.
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In Tenkasi, S. Selva Mohandas Pandian, former MLA (2016 – 2021) from this segment, is going to test his electoral fortune again and Kadayanallur constituency has been allotted to sitting MLA C. Krishna Murali, son of late minister Chendurpandian.

AIADMK candidate for Kadayanallur Assembly constituency C. Krishna Murali.
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Novice J. Dileepan Jaishankar, a 29-year-old medical doctor, is the AIADMK’s choice for Sankarankovil (Reserved) segment. This constituency is being represented by DMK MLA E. Raja, who is trying to get the ticket even as former MLA S. Muthuselvi, who defected from the AIADMK to the DMK, is also making intense attempts to get the seat.

AIADMK candidate for Sankarankovil (Reserved) segment J. Dileepan Jaishankar.
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Published – March 27, 2026 07:02 pm IST