DMK releases list
Karunanidhi’s son to contest
N Ravikumar
Tribune News Service

CM’s security beefed up Security has been increased for Tamilnadu Chief Minister M Karunandhi, who is already in the “Z plus” category, following a threat- letter received at his Gopalapuram residence yesterday. Three special teams have been formed to probe into the matter. The teams will be headed by DC Vijayakumari and Assistant Commissioner Kannappan. Adequate security checks were also being made on visitors allowed to meet him, sources said. Karunanidhi received a letter carrying the symbol of the proscribed LTTE issuing the threat. A case has been filed with the central crime branch of the city police, which is probing into the matter.

Chennai, April 5
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s son Azhagiri will contest from his bastion Madurai and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran has been fielded from the DMK’s stronghold, Central Chennai, as per the list of candidates released by the DMK today.

All three rebel MDMK leaders, who crossed over to the DMK recently were denied party tickets, as their sitting seats had been allotted to loyal DMK functionaries.

Two of the three former colleagues of Vaiko, L Ganesan and N Ramachandran, were MPs when they joined the DMK and the other leader M Kannappan was expected to be given a seat in Pollachi.

The DMK leadership seems to have decided in favour of loyal party functionaries, instead of giving seats to politicians who switch loyalties at crucial moments.

Four Union Ministers Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, Radhika Selvi, Venkatapathy and Regupathy, had been denied party tickets, while the two Cabinet Ministers T R Baalu and A Raja had been given a seat of their choice.

Both Baalu and Raja, had switched over to safer constituencies like Sriperumbudur and Nilgiris. The DMK which had promised to implement 33 per cent reservation for women has fielded only three women candidates even though the party is contesting 21 seats.

Not a single Muslim finds a place in the DMK’s list, while two Christian candidates have been fielded from South Tamil Nadu. Two cinema actors Napoleon and R Rithish will be fielded by the DMK.

Out of the 21 candidates, 11, including MK Azhagiri are new faces and 10 old faces had been re-nominated. The DMK has fielded a lawyer RS Bharathi in the prestigious South Chennai and party’s spokesperson TKS Elangovan will contest from North Chennai.

Former AIADMK MP Jagathratchagan, who joined the DMK a few days ago, has been fielded from Araokonam. AG Sugavanam, who defeated AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa in the 1996 Assembly elections, will contest from Krishnagiri.