Thirunavukkarasar set to contest on seventh symbol

Thirunavukkarasar would be contesting on the ‘hand’ symbol of the Indian National Congress for the first time in his long political career. He first contested elections (Assembly) in 1977 on the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.

When AIADMK founder MGR passed away, the party split into two as AIADMK (Janaki) and AIADMK (Jaya). During that time, Thirunavukkarasar was with the faction of late CM J Jayalalithaa and contested on the ‘rooster’ symbol and won the election.

He later had a falling out with Jayalalithaa and then contested as an independent candidate in Aranthangi assembly segment with ‘umbrella’ symbol and won the election. He also fought the subsequent election as an independent under the ‘mango’ symbol, and again emerged victorious.

In the 1999 LS polls, Thirunavukkarasar aligned with the DMK, and contested with ‘ring’ symbol and also won. He then joined the BJP in 2009 and contested from Ramanathapuram under the ‘lotus’ symbol but lost the elections.