AIADMK to decide on candidate today

While sidelined leader TTV Dinakaran is expected to contest as an Independent candidate, and DMK reissuing ticket to N Marudhu Ganesh, the ruling party is expected to take a final decision at the Administrative Council scheduled on Monday. 

“Madhusudhanan will be a natural choice as the 75-year-old was earlier fielded by the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in April. But his age needs to be factored in as well. The constituency has a sizeable number people from the Nadar and fishermen communities and fielding a candidate from either of them would improve our prospects of winning,” said a senior leader requesting anonymity.

“The fissures in the unified ruling party post the merger is getting bigger. We were witness to how the ruling faction ignored OPS in the MGR centenary celebrations in Ramanathapuram and the installation of the party’s flag mast in Madurai. They would have simply named Madhusudhanan if there was a consensus in the candidate selection. Even if fielded, whether Madhusudhanan can muster the total support of the unified party remains to be seen,” said a political analyst. 

Madhusudhanan who was out inspecting a polling booth at RK Nagar on Sunday, said that his role was limited to presiding over the party meeting. When asked whether he would be given the party ticket to contest, he said, “Decision on party ticket rests with the administrative council.”