Karunanidhi to contest from Chepauk

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 14. The DMK president and Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, will contest again from the Chepauk for Assembly polls. The party has renominated all of its present Ministers, save one, Mr.V.Mullaivendan, and a former Minister, Mr.M.Tamizhkudimagan, who recently joined AIADMK.

The DMK general secretary and Education Minister, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, will again contest from Harbour. Party Treasurer, Mr.Arcot N.Veeraswami, will recontest from Anna Nagar in the city. The Chennai Mayor and DMK's Youth Wing secretary, Mr.M.K.Stalin, has been renominated for Thousand Lights. The Assembly Speaker, Mr.P.T.R.Palanivel Rajan and the Deputy Speaker, Mr.Paruthi Ilamvazhuthi get back Madurai West and Egmore (r).

The list of 167 DMK candidates was announced by Mr.Karunanidhi at a public meeting here tonight, amid pouring rain. All the remaining Ministers have been fielded in existing constituencies except the Adi Dravidar Minister, Mr.Samyanallur Selvaraj. He has been given the Melur seat in Maduri district.

The Ministers again in the fray are: Messrs N.Suresh Rajan, S.Jennifer Chandran, Aladi Aruna, A.Rahman Khan, Pasumponn T.Kiruttinan, Ko.Si.Mani, K.N.Nehru, Pulavar Sengottuvan, I.Periyasamy, Andhiyur P.Selvarasu, N.K.K.Periyasamy, Pongalur Palanisamy, Veerapandi S.Arumugam, M.R.K.Pannerselvam, Dr.Ponmudi, Durai Murugan, K.Pitchandi, K.Sundaram and Mrs.Sarguna Pandiyan.

The DMK is fielding a higher number of 14 women candidates including renominating its deputy general secretary, Mrs.Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan. Of the total of 167, 93 are sitting MLAs and 74 new faces, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

The DMK's tally of 167 was reached after five seats were given to the New Justice Party this afternoon. The number of seats given to other allies remained the same. Former AIADMK functionaries, Mr.S. Raghupathy and Mr. Karuppusamy Pandian have also been accommodated in the list. A new film star in the list is actor Napoleon for Villivakkam.

Mr.Karunanidhi also announced the DMK candidates list for Pondicherry.

Speaking at the meeting, in which top DMK leaders including Mr.Anbazhagan participated, the dissident TMC leader, Mr.P.Chidambaram urged the people to ensure that the AIADMK ``responsible for the massive corruption and assault against democracy during 1991-96 was not brought back to power.''

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