AIADMK renominates three sitting MLAs as its nominees from the same Assembly seats in central region

The AIADMK has renominated three sitting MLAs and the party’s well-known faces for the same Assembly constituencies in the central region.

All three were former Ministers during the AIADMK regime and are considered heavy weights in their respective districts in the region. By fielding them yet again as the party nominees from the same constituencies, the AIADMK aims to retain its stronghold and ensure continuity.

In the first list of candidates announced by AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday, the party has renominated sitting MLA C. Vijayabaskar from Viralimalai Assembly constituency for the fourth time in a row. 

The former Health Minister and AIADMK’s organising secretary and Pudukottai North District secretary, Mr. Vijayabaskar performed a hattrick emerging victorious in 2011, 2016 and 2021 from the constituency.

Similar is the case with sitting MLA and former Food Minister Minister R. Kamaraj, who has been fielded as the AIADMK candidate yet again from Nannilam Assembly constituency in Tiruvarur district. Mr. Kamaraj tasted victory three consecutive times from the seat, having won in 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections.

Another party strongman and sitting MLA representing Vedaranyam Assembly constituency in Nagapattinam district O.S. Manian has been renominated for the same seat from where he was elected twice in 2016 and 2021 elections.  A former Minister for Handlooms and Textiles in the 2016 AIADMK cabinet, Mr. Manian was elected from Mayiladuthurai Parliamentary Constituency in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

The AIADMK’s first list also contains the name of former Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar, who is the party’s nominee for Karur Assembly constituency for the third consecutive time. Although Mr. Vijayabhaskar, the party’s Karur district secretary, won the seat in the 2016 election and became a Minister in the AIADMK cabinet, he lost to DMK candidate V. Senthil Balaji in the 2021 election.

The AIADMK has renominated former MLA and the State Government’s ex-Chief Whip Thamarai S. Rajendran for the third time in a row from Ariyalur Assembly constituency. Mr. Rajendran has faced mixed results, winning from the constituency in 2016 and losing in the 2021 election.