Young faces in AIADMK pin hopes on Jayalalithaa’s second list

In the AIADMK camp, other than the fact that the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol will be seen in all 234 constituencies for the first time, sources admit that many hope that AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa to retract and add new faces, as was done in the earlier elections. 

With nearly 26,000 persons paying Rs 11,000 for a seat, insiders opine that the current list that includes old-timers and those recommended by ministers and district secretaries lacks fresh blood. 

In fact, many youngsters with no experience had paid up, hoping that Jayalalithaa would opt for new faces. Stating that the selections did not have logic or reason, insiders wonder how the people recommended by the heads of divisions could be accepted when leaders themselves have fallen from grace. 

Ministers and district secretaries have played safe by recommending those who would toe their line. The party accepted such a recommendation at face value as former MLAs did not say so in their applications. 

Similarly, Vellore candidate P Neelakandan had eschewed politics and had a low profile in the district. But his application did not mention that he was a former MLA, sources revealed. Panruti Ramachandran was given a seat though he had stated that he wanted to eschew politics when he walked out from DMDK. 

While some were accommodated for having lost the last polls by less than 3,000 votes, those with similar outcome like Saidai Duraiswamy, Kumbakonam Ramanathan and former dairy minister Tiruvanamalai S Ramachandran were left out.

Former health minister C Vijayabhaskar, whose community threatened to work against him if he was allotted Pudukottai again was moved to Viralimalai in the same district. That the DMK would highlight the government’s lack of action during the December floods resulted in AIADMK party heavy-weights being given ticket for constituencies in Chennai city. Nearly 13 former MLAs were moved out as it was felt that their presence would result in an anti-incumbency wave in Greater Chennai.