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PMK may give Vijayakanth tough fight

Last Updated 21 April 2016, 19:00 IST

DMDK chief Vijayakanth might have formed a grand alliance with the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) in Tamil Nadu to encounter the ruling AIADMK and the Opposition DMK in the May 16 elections.

But the electoral battle at Ulundurpet from where Vijayakanth is contesting, is getting harder, with the Vanniyar-dominated PMK changing its candidate and fielding party spokesman and high court advocate Balu.

In addition, the DMDK chief has to face the ruling AIADMK candidate and sitting Ulundurpet MLA R Kumaraguru, who is seeking re-election at the same place.

Balu is expected to provide a tough time for the actor, who would be involved in a six-cornered contest that also includes the ruling AIADMK, DMK, BJP-led NDA and Seeman-led Naam Tamizhar Katchi, which also has a good vote bank.

The DMK, which gave the Ulundurpet seat to its allay Manithaneya Makkal Katchi earlier, has filed G R Vasanthavel as its candidate in this constituency.

“As I have filed several PILs in the high court with regard to issues affecting Udumelpet, people here know me very well,” Balu told DH.

He claimed that defeating Vijayakanth will not be a big problem since the voters in Ulundurpet are aware of the fact that the actor hardly attended the Assembly session to take up the grievances of the neighbouring Rishivandhiyam constituency where he won last time.

On the other hand, a confident AIADMK candidate Kumaraguru said that various welfare schemes launched by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has reached the people living here. “I am confident that the people would elect me as I have implemented several welfare schemes here,” he said.

There are speculations as to why Vijayakanth chose this constituency. Going by the numbers, in the 2011 election, VCK’s Mohammed Yusuf secured 61,286 against the total 1.91 lakh votes polled.

In 2006, DMK’s Thirunavukarasu emerged victorious with 65,662 votes, followed by VCK’s E Vijayaraghavan who got 46,878. In both elections, the VCK secured second position.

The DMDK, which allied with AIADMK in 2011, secured third position in 2006 with 20% vote share, and got 30,411 votes. Now with the VCK and DMDK stitching up an alliance, Vijayakanth camp claims that chances of winning Ulundurpet seems brighter.

Vijayakanth was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 from Vridhachalam, when he was the lone candidate to win after floating the party in 2005.

Filing of nomination from today  

Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu would enter a crucial phase on Friday with the beginning of the filing of nominations, even as the Election Commission laid down strict guidelines for the filing procedure, DHNS reports from Chennai.

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi –undefeated in the hustings for the record 13 times- would file his papers from Thiruvarur, while Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa would file her papers in RK Nagar.

With the state witnessing six-cornered contest, more than 1,500 candidates from all major political parties would file their nomination papers between Friday and April 29.

Meanwhile, the EC has said only five people including the candidate would be allowed in the chambers of the returning officer while filing the nomination papers, while the affidavit disclosing the candidate’s assets will be uploaded on the EC’s website within 24 hours of the filing of the nomination papers.

Except on Sunday, April 24, nomination papers can be filed between 11 am to 3 pm on any day up to April 29.

The papers will be scrutinised on April 30 and the last date for withdrawal will be on May 2. The final list of candidates with their symbols will be released on the same day.


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(Published 21 April 2016, 19:00 IST)

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