Kin of leaders hold sway as Tamil Nadu political parties release candidates' list for Lok Sabha

Tamil Nadu: The candidates' list released by the main political parties in the state for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections show that these outfits are at the disposal of young and upcoming blood relatives of clout-wielding leaders.

A cursory look at the lists released by the DMK and the AIADMK for the first election being faced in the aftermath of the death of two political behemoths and arch-rivals —M.Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa respectively show that these political parties, among several others, are fast becoming private properties of the prominent leaders who hold political clout.

If 2G scam-tainted Kanimozhi, MKStalin’s sister, who would contest from Tuticorin has been in politics for some time now and has been a Rajya Sabha MP, there is a debatable number of first-timers; all blood relatives of DMK leaders, including former minister and senior leader Durai Murugan's son Kathir Anand, fielded in Vellore, who are trying their luck this election.

Then there are also the old-timers such as Dayanidhi Maran who being named as the candidate for Chennai (Central) was received with skepticism by political observers if comments on social media are any indication.

The AIADMK, as if to prove that it was not far behind its rival when it comes to the issue under discussion, in the list of candidates released on Monday, named Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s son Raveendranath Kumar in the list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls released on Monday morning.

Raveendranath will contest elections from Theni parliamentary constituency.

Minister Jayakumar’s son Jayavardhan has been fielded in Chennai (South) former Madurai Mayor and Rajya Sabha MP VV Rajan Chellappa’s son Rajasathyan has been fielded in Madurai.

Ironically, S Jothi, wife of Balakrishna Reddy who was forced to resign as minister recently after being convicted by the court in a rioting case, has been fielded in Hosur assembly constituency as the party also released the list of candidates for 18 assembly constituencies where by-elections will also be conducted.

In Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party founder S.Ramadoss' son and former union minister Anbumani Ramadoss will contest from Dharmapuri.

Recently, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan, who has extended support to the DMK, alleged that PMK is solely run by the family of Ramadoss and his relatives and tended to sideline and ignore senior leaders who gave their all for the growth of the party. PMK, he further claimed, has betrayed the Vanniyar community which it claimed to represent.