CHENNAI: After days of internal discussions, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Friday released its list of 27 candidates for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Nearly a month after sealing its alliance with the DMK, the Congress released its list, leaving out Melur, just ahead of the April 6 nomination deadline.
TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai will once again contest from Sriperumbudur (SC), while Legislature Party leader S Rajesh Kumar has been renominated from Killiyoor. J M H Aassan Maulaana (Velachery) and Ruby Manoharan (Nanguneri) have also retained their seats.
At the same time, the party has introduced some fresh faces. G K M Tamil Kumaran, son of former PMK leader G K Mani, who recently joined the Congress, will contest from Pennagaram.
Youth Congress president K P Surya Prakash has been fielded from Kavundampalayam.
However, the absence of a candidate for Melur has raised questions, indicating that internal rifts may persist.
Party sources say differences remain within the leadership, particularly involving Karti Chidambaram’s camp, which is said to be pushing for a stronger presence in the Sivagangai region.
Earlier, the camp had sought the Sivagangai constituency instead of Melur, and the issue appears to have delayed a final decision.
The list covers several key constituencies across the State, including Ponneri, Krishnagiri, Erode (East), Udhagamandalam, Cuddalore, Karaikudi and Sivakasi.
Ponneri (SC) – Durai Chandrasekar
Velachery – J M H Aassan Maulaana
Sriperumbudur (SC) – K Selvaperunthagai
Sholingur – A.M. Munirathnam
Uthangarai (SC) – R Kuppu Saamy
Krishnagiri – Dr A Chella Kumar
Pennagaram – G K M Tamil Kumaran
Attur (SC) – S K Arthanari
Erode (East) – Gopinath Palaniyappan
Udhagamandalam – B Ramachandran
Kavundampalayam – K P Surya Prakash
Singanallur – V Shrinithi Naidu
Thuraiyur (SC) – M Vichu Lenin Prasath
Cuddalore – A S Chandrasekaran
Mayiladuthurai – Jamal Yunus Mohammed
Aranthangi – T Rama Chandhiran
Karaikudi – S Mangudi
Usilampatti – T Saravana Kumar
Sivakasi – Ganesan Ashokan
Tiruvadana – Rama Karumanickam
Srivaikuntam – S Oorvashi Amirtharaj
Sankarankovil (SC) – Sangai Ganeshan
Ambasamudram – V P Durai
Nanguneri – Ruby Manoharan
Colachel – Dr Tharagai Cuthbert
Vilavancode – T T Praveen
Killiyoor – S Rajesh Kumar