AIADMK retains nominees in 2 seats

Stealing a march over rival parties, AIADMK named former MLA M Rengasamy in Thanjavur, former Transport Minister V Senthil Balaji for Aravakurichi and A K Bose from Tirupparankundram. DMK had announced on Tuesday that candidates willing to contest in the polls could file their papers in party office till October 20 and an interview will be held the next day. 

AIADMK also named Om Sakthi Sekar, former MLA (2011-16) as its candidate for Nellithope seat in Puducherry where its Chief Minister and Congress leader V Narayanasamy is set to contest. 

Both Rengasamy and Senthil Balaji were the AIADMK candidates in the May 16 Assembly elections as well. However, the poll was cancelled in the two constituencies by the Election Commission following seizure of huge sums of cash, distribution of money and gifts by candidates and parties.

In July last year, Senthil Balaji was dropped by Jayalalithaa from her Cabinet and he was also relieved of his party post of Karur district secretary.

However, AIADMK top brass named Senthil Balaji as its candidate in Aravakurichi in 2016 May 16 Assembly election though he was elected from Karur in 2011. The party had named MR Vijayabaskar instead for Karur. In Tirupparankundram constituency, where the MLA-elect S M Seenivel of AIADMK passed away even before taking oath, a bypoll was necessitated.

The ruling party has named long-time party functionary A K Bose, who is also a former MLA (Madurai North constituency, 2011-16) as its nominee for Tirupparankundram in Madurai district.