AIADMK unveils first list of 23 candidates; EPS to contest sgain from Edappadi

Having completed the seat-sharing exercise with its allies in the NDA, the principal opposition AIADMK on Wednesday released its first list of 23 candidates for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) seeking re-election from his home turf, Edappadi, in Salem district.

Besides EPS, the party is fielding 21 former ministers from their respective strongholds. The lone exception is former Chief Whip S. Rajendran, who has been given a ticket from his native Ariyalur, which he had represented earlier. While party strongman in central Tamil Nadu, C. Ve. Shanmugam, a former minister and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, has shifted from Villupuram, where he lost last time, to nearby Mylam, former minister K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji has opted for Sivakasi instead of Virudhunagar.

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Other prominent faces include D. Jayakumar, re-nominated from Royapuram in north Chennai; S.P. Velumani (Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district); K.P. Munusamy (Veppanahalli in Krishnagiri district); C. Sreenivasan (Dindigul); O.S. Manian (Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district); and C. Vijayabhaskar (Viralimalai in Pudukkottai district).

Interestingly, the AIADMK has taken the lead in releasing its list ahead of the ruling DMK, despite starting seat-sharing negotiations much later and completing the process only two days ago. Earlier, EPS also released the party manifesto, promising a slew of welfare measures, including an educational loan waiver, free refrigerators, and a one-time ₹10,000 cash dole to help tide over inflationary pressures. EPS is also launching the election campaign from Mylapore in the city this evening.

Unlike in the last Lok Sabha polls, in which party heavyweights shied away from contesting, they are now in the fray in the Assembly election, indicating the AIADMK’s determination to wrest power from its arch rival, the DMK. Even before concluding the seat-sharing pacts with NDA constituents, EPS had completed formal district-wise interviews with ticket aspirants.

Within the NDA, the AIADMK has allotted 27 seats to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) led by Anbumani Ramadoss, and 11 to the AMMK of T.T.V. Dhinakaran. The Tamil Maanila Congress (M) led by G.K. Vasan and the Dalit outfit Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam led by John Pandian, which have been allotted five and one seat respectively, will contest on the BJP’s lotus symbol. John Pandian has been fielded from Rajapalayam, a general constituency.