Congress renominates 12 MLAs in its list of 27; Melur nominee yet to be decided

The Congress on Friday finally announced its list of candidates for 27 out of 28 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies allotted to it by the DMK for the upcoming election.

It retained 12 sitting MLAs, including the lone woman legislator, Tharahai Cuthbert, but shifted her from Vilavancode to Colachel.

The other woman candidate is V. Shrinithi Naidu, fielded in Singanallur. Ms. Shrinithi contested from Udumalaipettai on the Makkal Needhi Maiam ticket in 2021, securing around 8100 votes. Local Congress cadres staged a protest opposing her candidature.

The list was released after lengthy discussions in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar retained their seats in Sriperumbudur and Killiyoor respectively.

Killiyoor Congress candidate S. Rajesh Kumar
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

New entrant G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran, son of former Pattali Makkal Katchi president G.K. Mani, has been given the Pennagaram seat, despite strong opposition from some senior leaders.

The party gave the Vilavancode seat to T.T. Praveen, who is said to be influential among the Christian community. He will compete against S. Vijayadharini, former Congress MLA, who had joined the BJP ahead of the last parliamentary elections.

The party is yet to announce its candidate for Melur, as influential Congress leaders are apparently hoping to field one of their supporters there.

MLA Durai Chandrasekar will contest again from his Ponneri (SC) constituency. Congress MLAs for Velachery and Sholinghur – J.M.H. Aassan Maulaana and A.M. Munirathinam – will also contest from their respective seats.

Former Krishnagiri MP A. Chella Kumar has been fielded in the Krishnagiri constituency; Gopinath Palaniyappan in Erode East, which seat was previously held by late E.V.K.S. Elangovan and late Thirumagan E.V. Raa.; and B. Ramachandran in Udhagamandalam.

K.P. Surya Prakash will contest from Kavundampalayam, and A.S. Chandrasekaran from Cuddalore.

G. Ashokan, Congress candidate for Sivakasi Assembly constituency
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HANDOUT

The Congress candidates in Singanallur, Kavundampalayam, and Cuddalore will face AIADMK candidates – Jayaram K.R., P.R.G. Arunkumar and M.C. Sampath – respectively.

S. Mangudi retains the Karaikudi constituency, where a four-cornered contest is expected, with Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s Therboki Pandian, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Prabhu also in the fray.

T. Saravana Kumar will contest from Usilampatti and Ganesan Ashokan has been given the Sivakasi ticket – both of them will fight AIADMK candidates I. Mahendran and K.T. Rajendra Bhalaji.

Rama Karumanickam has retained the Tiruvadanai seat, and S. Oorvashi Amirtharaj the Srivaikuntam segment. Ruby Manoharan will once again contest from Nanguneri.

While Sangai Ganeshan has been fielded from the Sankarankovil (SC) constituency, M. Vichu Lenin Prasath has been fielded from Thuraiyur (SC), S.K. Arthanari from Attur (SC), and R. Kuppu Samy from Uthangarai (SC).

T. Rama Chandhiran has been fielded from Aranthangi; V.P. Durai from Ambasamudram; and Jamal Yunus Mohammed from Mayiladuthurai instead of sitting MLA S. Rajakumar.

Jothimani’s criticism

Congress MP from Karur S. Jothimani criticised her party’s selection of candidates and accused Mr. Selvaperunthagai and other office-bearers of ignoring the sentiments of the party cadre.

“The Kongu Vellala Gounder community, who command a majority in 38 Assembly seats in the influential Kongu belt, and the Arunthathiyar community have been denied opportunities. This is unprecedented in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu,” she said in a statement.