DMK biggies begin lobby for seats, Cong camp silent

If sources in the party are to be believed, a few seniors in TNCC are reluctant to enter the electoral fray. It has been learnt that heavyweights, including a former state Congress president from the western region and an ex-MP in Madurai region, have conveyed their disinterest in contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

The former TNCC president, who was in news for allotting an Assembly seat to his wife, is learnt to have conveyed to the national leadership that he was not keen on contesting in the seat, which he had lost in the past.

Meanwhile, the former MP, a highly placed Congress source revealed to DT Next, had expressed his inability to spend for what he believed would be an expensive election.

“The ruling AIADMK has the money and muscle to go flat out in the Parliamentary election. Their leaders will use everything at their disposal to save their pride. Unlike the DMK, we don’t have the wherewithal to give the ruling party a tough fight. Also, the DMK will plan to allot tough seats to us. So, it is better to opt out before the race begins,” a Congress district president quoted the ex-MP as telling his supporters.

However, a few brave faces like incumbent TNCC chief Thirunavukkarasar and Karti Chidambaram would be certainties in the state Congress, which is most likely to get not more than half a dozen seats from the DMK.

Significantly, district secretaries of the DMK have started lobbying for their heirs. Big names like former minister K Ponmudi and Duraimurugan have planned to secure a ticket for their sons. Villupuram central district secretary Ponmudi is attempting to field his son Gowtham Sigamani in Villupuram, while his colleague MRK Panneerselvam has set his eyes on Cuddalore ticket for his son Kathiravan.

DMK treasurer Duraimurugan’s son Kathir, party insiders say, was the favourite for Vellore seat. DMK sources revealed that the spending capacity of candidates was one of the key parameters in candidate selection in the principal opposition party.

Apart from scrutinising candidates’ resume, the DMK high command is learnt to have planned on consulting its district secretaries to confirm the candidates’ willingness to spend during the election.