AIADMK names candidates for three TN Assembly constituencies

Chennai: Ruling AIADMK on Wednesday named its candidates for Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Thirupparankundram Assembly constituencies. The polls to Thanjavur and Aravakurichi and bypoll to Thirupparankumdram will all be held on 19 November. Stealing a march over rival parties, AIADMK named M Rengasamy in Thanjavur, former Transport Minister V Senthil Balaji for Aravakurichi and AK Bose from Thirupparankundram. [caption id=“attachment_2821248” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image. Reuters[/caption] DMK had announced on Tuesday that candidates willing to contest in the polls could file their papers in party office till 20 October and an interview will be held the next day. AIADMK also named Om Sakthi Sekar, former MLA (2011-16) as its candidate for Nellithope seat in Puducherry where the Chief Minister of the Union Territory and Congress leader V Narayanasamy are all set to contest. Both Rengasamy and Senthil Balaji were the AIADMK candidates in the May 16 Assembly elections as well. However, the poll was cancelled in the two constituencies by Election Commission following seizure of huge sums of cash, distribution of money and gifts by candidates and parties. In the 14th Assembly (2011-16), Rengasamy was an MLA and Senthil Balaji had been the Transport Minister. In July last year, Senthil Balaji, one of the well-known faces of the AIADMK regime, was dropped by Jayalalithaa from her Cabinet and he was also relieved of his party post of Karur District Secretary. AIADMK top brass named Senthil Balaji as its candidate in Aravakurichi in 2016 May election though he was elected from Karur in 2011. The party had named MR Vijayabaskar instead for Karur. As MLA-elect of Tiruparankundram constituency, SM Seenivel of AIADMK passed away days after results for the 16 May Assembly election was declared, a bypoll was necessitated. The ruling party has named long-time party functionary, AK Bose who is also a former MLA (Madurai North constituency, 2011-16) as its nominee for Thiruparrankundram in Madurai district.