Tamil Nadu   

AIADMK to contest from 182 constituencies

S. Dorairaj

Jayalalithaa releases list; party will take on DMK in 106 seats

Jayalalithaa — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will field candidates in 182 constituencies including 106 segments where it will take on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the May 8 Assembly elections.

The party has also identified the 52 constituencies earmarked for its allies — Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), Indian Trade Union Congress-Tamil Nadu (INTUC-TN), Indian National League (INL), Indian Union Muslim League-Tamil Nadu (IUML-TN), Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam (MMK), All-India Forward Bloc-Santhanam wing (AIFB-Santhanam) and Janata Dal (Secular).

Tour plan

AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who released the list of constituencies to be contested by the constituents of the Democratic People's Front (DPF) here on Friday, also announced the schedule for her electioneering. She will kick-start her campaign at Saidapet here on March 31 and conclude it at Gummidipoondi on May 6. Besides covering parts of Pondicherry on April 1, she will address a public meeting at Sithoor in Kerala on April 20.

According to the list, the MDMK will contest from 35 constituencies. Its candidates will lock horns with their DMK rivals in 16 constituencies. The party will be taking on the Congress in nine segments, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in five places, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in three segments and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in one constituency each.

The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) will field candidates in Assembly segments including one — Mugaiyur — where it will cross swords with the PMK, its erstwhile ally in the Tamil Protection Movement.

Not included

Significantly, the Tamil Nadu Indira Congress led by Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy and the All-India Lakshiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of film star Vijaya T. Rajendhar, which had extended support to the AIADMK do not figure in the list.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the seat sharing was finalised on the basis of talks held between the election panel of the party and the committees set up by the alliance partners.

The AIADMK will field its candidates in nine constituencies — Royapuram, Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar, Park Town, Purasawalkam, Thyagaraya Nagar, Thousand Lights, Triplicane, Mylapore and Saidapet — in Chennai city. It has chosen to rely mainly on its traditional strongholds by deciding to put up more than 50 per cent of its nominees in the western and southern districts.

The party has also decided to contest many seats in Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts that form the Thevar heartland.

The DPF list also indicates that the AIADMK and the Congress will clash in 35 constituencies. The party will fight the PMK in 26 segments, besides taking on the CPI in nine constituencies and the CPI (M) in six places.

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