MNM to contest in all 18 constituencies

With the AIADMK having decided to field candidates in all the 18 constituencies and the DMK also likely to contest in all the seats, Makkal Needhi Maiam’s announcement has now turned into a three-cornered battle.

In a press release issued on Thursday, MNM’s national media manager Mandvi Sharma invited the party members and public also to submit application forms for party ticket to contest in the 18 Assembly constituencies. “The forms will be available at the party offices in Chennai and Pollachi from Thursday. Forms can also be downloaded from the party website,” the statement said.

The development came after repeated statements of the party president Kamal Haasan that MNM would contest in by-elections for the 18 Assembly constituencies once the dates are announced. “Our leader has confirmed it many times and we will go it alone in the by-elections,” a party source said.

The last date for submitting application forms is March 16. The cost of application is Rs 10,000, the source added.

Meanwhile, party insiders said that Kamal would release the list of 40 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections at a general meeting to be held in Coimbatore on March 24.

The MNM has received as many as 1,137 applications from party workers and social activists for Lok Sabha tickets.“Interview for Lok Sabha seats is under way and the process will end tomorrow (Friday). There are chances that Kamal might announce candidates for the Assembly constituencies at the Coimbatore meeting,” the source hinted.

Makkal Needhi Maiam will contest in the ‘battery torch’ symbol allotted to it by the Election Commissionlast week.