Balaji and Palanisamy among DMK’s aspirants for May 19 bypolls

Former transport minister Senthil Balaji, who was appointed in charge of Karur district unit of DMK, following his defection from TTV Dinakaran’s AMMK, has been fielded from Aravakurichi. The DMK has fielded its former rural industries minister Pongalur N Palanisamy from Sulur Assembly seat, which fell vacant following the death of AIADMK MLA Kangaraj last month.

The party also named P Saravanan and M C Chinnayya from Tirupparankundram and Ottappidaram (reserved) constituencies respectively. Balaji had quit the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK and joined the DMK on December 14, 2018.

Balaji, who was elected from Aravakkurichi in 2016, was among the 18 AIADMK MLAs, who were disqualified by Speaker P Dhanapal for siding with Dhinakaran.

Saravanan, a Madurai-based oncologist, had preferred an election petition before the Madras High Court against A K Bose, who was elected in 2016.

Belonging to the AIADMK, Bose died last year, and he had represented Tirupparankundram seat in Madurai district. The Madras High Court had recently set aside Bose’s election.

 Tiruparankudram is going to the polls for the third time in three years owing to the demise of two of its elected representatives.