T.N. Assembly poll: Two ex-Ministers, three previously disqualified MLAs figure in AMMK candidate list

Two former Ministers and three former legislators, who were disqualified in September 2017 for having owed allegiance to Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran – then a rebel leader of the AIADMK – were among eleven candidates named by Mr. Dhinakaran on Saturday (March 28, 2026) for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. 

After the AIADMK returned to power in May 2011, C. Shanmugavelu (Madathukulam) and G. Senthamizhan (Saidapet) were Ministers briefly. The former MLAs who were disqualified nine years ago are K. Kathirkamu (Theni), R. Sundararaj (Ottapidaram), and T.A. Elumalai (Poonamallee). 

M. Rajasekaran, who represented Thottiam during 2006-11, has been nominated for Tiruchi (West). The remaining five candidates are S. Kamaraj (Mannargudi); V. Karthikeyan (Thiruvaiyaru); V. Pandi (Karaikudi); A. Gnanasekar (Tirupattur); and R. Isakkimuthu (Nanguneri).