The DMK, which is heading the Secular Progressive Alliance, has retained the three Parliamentary constituencies in Chennai, while allotting the other major urban constituencies, Madurai and Coimbatore, to the CPI(M) and Tiruchi to the Congress.
Besides the Chennai South, North and Central seats, the DMK has picked seven other seats — Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram (SC), Kallakurichi, Arakonam, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore — in northern Tamil Nadu, considered its traditional stronghold. This accounts for 50% of the party’s 20 seats.
Releasing the list of constituencies allotted to allies on Friday, DMK president M.K. Stalin reiterated his commitment to give a Rajya Sabha berth to the MDMK. The MDMK has been given Erode, where it is likely to field former MP A. Ganesamurthy.
The VCK, which had sought a general constituency, has been given two reserved constituencies, Chidambaram and Villupuram. Its leader Thol. Thirumavalavan would enter the fray in Chidambaram.
In southern T.N., the DMK will field candidates in Dindigul, Tenkasi (SC), Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. Rajya Sabha member M.K. Kanimozhi will test the electoral waters for the first time from Thoothukudi. Former Union Minister T.R. Baalu is returning to Sriperumbudur, which he won in 2009.
The DMK allotted Tiruppur and Nagapattinam to the CPI. The allotment of Nagapattinam showed the party’s flexibility in dealing with allies, as the constituency was represented for three consecutive terms by the DMK’s A.K.S. Vijayan — in 1999, 2004 and 2009.
Likewise, it allotted to the Congress Krishnagiri, twice won by E.G. Sugavanam, the man famously described by late DMK president M. Karunanidhi as “the ant that entered an elephant’s ears” after he defeated AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in the Bargur Assembly seat in 1996. The Congress was given Kanniyakumari.
On the other hand, the DMK will test the waters in Tenkasi (SC), which for many years was a Congress stronghold.
Ramanathapuram has been given to the IUML.
In the Delta region, the DMK will contest from Mayiladuthurai and Thanjavur.
As for western T.N., the party would enter the fray in Dharmapuri, Salem, Nilgiris (SC) and Pollachi. While former Union Minister A. Raja is likely to be fielded a third time from Nilgiris (SC), in Salem and Dharmapuri, the party would have to overcome the combined strength of the AIADMK and the PMK.
Mr. Stalin said Mr. Thirumavalavan would decide whether VCK candidates would be contesting on the DMK symbol.
MDMK leader Vaiko told The Hindu his party was undecided on contesting on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
Candidates list
The DMK would release its candidates list for the Lok Sabha polls and the byelections to the 18 Assembly constituencies on Sunday. Congress President K.S. Alagiri said the party would announce its candidates on March 19.
