Sitting MLA, former MLAs figure in AIADMK’s list of candidates in Madurai, Virudhunagar districts

S. Sethupathi.

Mangulam K. Mahendran.

K. Manickam.

V.G. Ganesan

Sellur K. Raju
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V.V. Rajan Chellappa
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K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji
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R.B. Udayakumar
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I. Mahendran
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Melur MLA P. Periyapullan alias Selvam has joined the club of sitting MLAs, Sellur K. Raju, R.B. Udayakumar and V.V. Rajan Chellappa, who have been re-nominated by AIADMK in their respective Assembly constituencies in Madurai district for the 2026 Assembly polls.

Mr. Periyapullan has already won from Melur Assembly constituency twice in 2016 and 2021.

AIADMK, which had won five out of the 10 Assembly constituencies in Madurai district, has now bet on three former MLAs from the district.

P. Periyapullan Alias Selvam.
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Former DMK MLA from Thirupparankundram Assembly constituency, P. Saravanan, has been nominated by the AIADMK as its candidate for Madurai North Assembly constituency. He had earlier lost from the same Madurai North Assembly constituency as BJP candidate in 2021. Subsequently, Dr. Saravanan joined the AIADMK and was nominated as its candidate for Madurai Lok Sabha Election in 2024. But, he lost it.

The other two former MLAs chosen by AIADMK to contest the Assembly polls are K. Manickam for Sholavandan (SC) Assembly constituency, and I. Mahendran for Usilampatti Assembly seat.

P. Saravanan
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Mr. Manickam, who had won from Sholavandan in 2016, however, lost when sought a re-election from the same Assembly constituency in 2021.

Mr. Mahendran, who had emerged victorious from Usilampatti Assembly seat way back in 2006 on AIADMK ticket, had lost in 2021 when fought from the same seat on AMMK ticket.

Party advocate wing deputy secretary Mangulam K. Mahendran would be fielded by the AIADMK in Madurai East Assembly constituency to take on DMK heavyweight and Minister P. Moorthi.

The NDA is yet to announce the candidates for Madurai South and Madurai Central Assembly constituencies.

Virudhunagar

Former Srivilliputtur MLA, M. Chandra Prabha, who was denied party ticket in 2021 Assembly election, has again been nominated by AIADMK from Srivilliputtur (SC) Assembly seat.

Intra-party issues that erupted in Virudhunagar district in 2021 claimed the electoral politics prospects of Ms. Chandra Prabha, who had won by a huge margin of 36,673 votes in the 2016 Assembly election.

However, the party had preferred E.M. Manraj to Ms. Chandra Prabha in 2021. Though Mr. Manraj managed to win, his victory margin was only 12,736 votes.

The AIADMK had faced a rout in all other six Assembly seats in the district, including the defeat for then two-time State Minister and two-time MLA from Sivakasi, K.T.Rajenthra Bhalaji from Rajapalayam Assembly seat in 2021 Assembly polls.

However, the party high command has now again reposed its faith on the Ms. Chandra Prabha, dumping Mr. Manraj this time.

New faces

Meanwhile, the AIADMK has introduced two new faces in Virudhunagar district. The Dravidian party has nominated an industrialist V.G. Ganesan, deputy secretary of Puratachi Thalaivi Amma Peravai, for Virudhunagar Assembly constituency.

The party Aruppukottai town secretary, S. Sethupathi, has been nominated for Aruppukottai Assembly constituency.

With Mr. Rajenthra Bhalaji, having already given Sivakasi Assembly seat and Sattur and Rajapalayam Assembly segments allotted to its NDA partners BJP and TMMK, the candidate for only Tiruchuli Assembly seat is to be announced by the AIADMK.

Published – March 27, 2026 08:35 pm IST