Chennai, Mar 22:
In a surprise move, the BJP fielded its state president K Annamalai in Coimbatore constituency in the party’s first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections released on Thursday. Former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will take on DMK’s Thamizhachi Thangapandian in the South Chennai seat.
Union Minister L Murugan has been pitted against DMK leader A Raja in Nilgiris. Interestingly, Murugan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh only last month. Ex-union minister Pon Radhakrishnan will be the party candidate from Kanniyakumari, a seat he represented in 2014.
BJP’s legislature party leader Nainar Nagenthran is contesting from Tirunelveli. The BJP is contesting in 20 seats. Since four of the allies will also contest in the BJP symbol, the number of candidates contesting on ‘lotus’ will be 24.
The allies and the number of seats allotted to them are: PMK (10); TMC (3); AMMK (2); New Justice Party, Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Indiya Jananayaka Katchi, and Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (1 each).
In Chennai Central constituency, Vinoj P Selva, president of the state BJP’s youth wing, will be taking on DMK candidate Dayanidhi Maran. Krishnagiri constituency has been allocated to C Narasimhan, spokesperson of the BJP state unit and former MP.
While New Justice Party leader AC Shanmugam will be contesting from Vellore, Indiya Jananayaka Katchi leader TR Paarivendhar, the incumbent MP, will contest from Perambalur.
Former CM and ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam has decided to contest from Ramanathapuram as an Independent candidate as part of the BJP alliance. “We had sought 15 seats in the BJP alliance. Since we could not get the ‘two leaves’ symbol as per our cadres wish, I am contesting from Ramanathapuram to prove our strength,” Panneerselvam said
