The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Leaders on a hat-trick course

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Leaders on a hat-trick course

V. Jayanth

M. Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: In a rare coincidence, arch political rivals Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi are on a hat-trick course, contesting from the same constituencies they have been representing.

Ms.Jayalalithaa is contesting again from Andipatti, a typical rural constituency in Theni district. Mr.Karunanidhi has stuck to his favourite Chepauk seat in his party bastion Chennai.

Earlier, both leaders had shifted from one seat to another for a variety of reasons. Ms.Jayalalithaa contested from two seats in a previous election. But, for the 2006 elections, they have consciously chosen a "tried and tested seat," so that they can concentrate on their election campaign.

Mr.Karunanidhi, who began his long political innings in the State Legislature in 1957 from the rural Kulithalai constituency (then in Tiruchi district, now in Karur), shifted to Thanjavur for the 1962 elections. After that, he has stuck to Chennai, representing Saidapet twice, Anna Nagar twice and Harbour twice — he resigned the seat in 1991. For the 1996 and 2001 elections, he contested from Chepauk. He has never lost an election.

Eventful journey

Ms. Jayalalithaa, who began her political career in the 1989 elections, chose the Bodinayakanur seat to enter the Assembly, heading a divided AIADMK. She led the united party to a thumping victory in 1991, getting elected from Bargur in Dharmapuri district. But she lost the seat in 1996, when a DMK wave swept the State. Since she had filed papers in four constituencies for the 2001 elections, her nominations were rejected. She won the Andipatti seat in a byelection in 2002.

Andipatti shot into fame when an ailing MGR fought the 1984 elections from there.

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