MK Stalin’s party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its candidate list today.DMK chief MK Stalin will once again contest from Kolathur, while his son, actor-turned-politician Udhayanidhi, will fight from Chepauk-Triplicane. DMK's Thanga Tamilselvan to take on O Panneerselvam in Bodinayakanur.
Stalin released the list of all 173 candidates for the elections, retaining most sitting MLAs including seniors Durai Murugan, K N Nehru, K Ponmudi and MRK Panneerselvam-- all former ministers, besides others.
Addressing a press conference at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam here, Stalin said he will file the nomination, which started Friday in the poll-bound state, on March 15 and embark on the next leg of the campaign.
Top Candidates List
MK Stalin - Kolathur
Udhayanidhi - Cheupak
P Thiyagarajan - Madurai central
Thanga Tamilselvan - Bodi ( Against OPS)
Sampath Kumar - Edappadi ( Against CM EPS)
Anbil Mahesh - Thiruverumbur
TRB Raja - Mannargudi
Geetha Jeevan - Tuticorin
The DMK, out of power since 2011, is eyeing a comeback by dethroning the ruling AIADMK and has stitched up a rainbow coalition comprising the Congress, the Left, MDMK, VCK and other smaller outfits, apportioning them a total of 61 of the 234 seats at stake.
Since many of the parties including the MDMK will be contesting on DMK's Rising Sun symbol, the lead partner will be effectively in fray in 187 seats, Stalin added.
DMK will field candidates on 186 out of the 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly. The assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting will take place on May 2.
The DMK had yesterday inked a pact with Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi, a western Tamil Nadu-based outfit that would contest in three Assembly segments on the Dravidian party’s ”Rising Sun” symbol.
The DMK has allotted 25 seats to its ally Congress and six each for CPI, CPI (M) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and MDMK. In total, 60 segments have been set apart for allies by the DMK.