Kanimozhi seeks DMK ticket from Thoothukudi

DMK leader Kanimozhi on Monday filed an application seeking party ticket to fight from the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency in Southern Tamil Nadu.

Kanimozhi's application is just a formality as the DMK makes it mandatory for those seeking tickets to apply by paying a nominal amount.

That Kanimozhi will be the DMK candidate for Thoothukudi was evident since she was accompanied by the district secretary Geetha Jeevan and senior party leaders T R Baalu and Ma Subramanian, a close aide of party chief M K Stalin, when she submitted the application.

Kanimozhi, whose Rajya Sabha term ends in July, decided to shift to the Lok Sabha and her proposal was approved by her half-brother and DMK President M K Stalin.

Along with Kanimozhi, another family member Dayanidhi Maran, former Union telecom minister, is also expected to get a ticket from Central Madras, a constituency represented by his father Murasoli Maran for long and twice by him.

Since she had decided to enter the fray from Thoothukudi, Kanimozhi has been holding grama sabha meetings in the district from January.

Kanimozhi had always wanted to contest the Lok Sabha polls as it helps a politician to work on the ground, but was instead to the Rajya Sabha in 2007.

The Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat is considered safe for Kanimozhi for more than one reason, party leaders said.

With Nadars, the business community to which Kanimozhi’s mother belongs, forming a huge chunk of voters in the constituency and the Congress by its side, DMK feels its prominent woman face in the party will face no problem from Thoothukudi.

Kanimozhi is expected to face BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan, who also belongs to the Nadar community, with the saffron party expected to be allotted the seat in the AIADMK alliance.