DMK Rajya Sabha candidates likely to file papers today 

Incumbent MP Tiruchy N Siva, senior advocate NR Elango and former minister Anthiyur Selvaraj, DMK sources said, are expected to do the paper works for their election on Monday,March 9.

DT Next has reliably learnt that party president MK Stalin along with all party MLAs would accompany the candidates who are expected to file the nomination around 12 noon on Monday. “Anyhow, all MLAs will turn up for Assembly session on Monday. Stalin has planned to take them all for filing nomination. By filing nomination even before the ruling party announces candidates, we will win the mind game,” the party source disclosed, putting to rest doubts raised over the date of filing of nomination owing to the demise of the party general secretary K Anbazhagan on Saturday.

After the demise of party’s general secretary Anbazhagan, the DMK leadership had announced a week-long mourning and cancelled all its party functions during the mourning period.

Meanwhile, the demise of Anbazhagan had prompted the rumour mill to go into overdrive. Speculation was rife that a member of the general secretary’s family could be ‘empowered’ by the DMK leadership using the Upper House nomination. By noon on Sunday, party insiders were debating that one of the three candidates announced for Rajya Sabha nomination by the party leadership could make way for Anbazhagan’s grandson Vetri. Some party functionaries were also suggesting by evening that the ‘sacrifice’ could be made by incumbent member Tiruchy N Siva.

However, inquiries made with DMK insiders revealed that the high command was advised thus, but it chose to reward a member of the veteran’s family during the ensuing Assembly elections. “Siva is no martyr. Also, he is the senior most member. So, how could he be asked to give up his seat? Anthiyur Selvaraj has been chosen to represent the marginalized community. The only person left is Elango. He is the favourite of the party president,” a party insider reasoned, suggesting that change of candidate was not even a remote possibility.