RS nominees: caste balance, a key factor for AIADMK

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 8. With the PMK ruling itself out of contention for the Rajya Sabha seat, the focus in the AIADMK- led alliance is now on choosing four candidates on the AIADMK ticket and one on the TMC ticket. The DMK, with support from its allies, will be able to win the sixth seat.

The AIADMK, in its nomination exercise, appears to be grappling with two issues: competence and caste-balance. In the competence category are big names like former Supreme Court judge, Mr. V. Ramasamy, and Mr. B. P. Rajan, both of whom had lost the 1999 Lok Sabha election. Besides, there is Dr. V. Maitreyan who lost the Mylapore Assembly constituency. Another name doing the rounds is that of the former Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. T. N. Seshan, who lately has emerged as an influential supporter of Ms. Jayalalithaa on crucial issues.

The need to preserve a caste balance, however, appears to have thrown up more names. District secretaries and strongmen who belong to dominant communities, but who were kept out of the Assembly election, might get a look-in this time.

A Vanniar candidate might be accommodated if only to dilute the effect of the PMK's imminent exit from the front.

Apart from one candidate from the Vanniar belt, there might be another from the western belt of Erode and surrounding areas. The name of the Tiruvarur district secretary, Mr. R. Karmaraj, is also being floated in party circles.

The party would have to decide on whether to renominate Mr. O. S. Manian and Mr. Margabandhu whose seats are falling vacant. Mr. Manian played a key role in alliance negotiations and is an important State functionary.

TMC predicament

In the TMC, with the party MP, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, whose seat is falling vacant, seeking a renomination, and a spirited campaign by the party MLAs, to field the TMC president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar's son, Mr. Govindavasan, to the Upper House, the party leadership is clearly in the throes of a dilemma.

And, adding to the predicament, not less than 10 party seniors including the party spokesman, Mr. B. S. Gnanadesikan, and former MPs, Mr. Abdul Kader and Mr. Karvendan, and former MLA, Mr. K. S. Alagiri, besides a few industrialists, are making strong claims for the single seat at stake.

However, sources in the party claim that Mr. Moopanar has virtually ruled out giving a berth to his son. As for the key aspirant, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, she faces a tough resistance from her party colleagues who either want Mr. Govindavasan or another ``deserving candidate'' to be fielded.

In the face of the strong opposition from the party second-rung, Mr. Moopanar is said to have indicated to Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan that it would be difficult to renominate her for the fourth time.

While Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan appears willing to pull out of the race if Mr. Govindavasan were to be nominated, she is expected to put up a bitter fight, if any other party functionary is fielded, say sources. But, to dilute the strength of her claims, her detractors are propping up senior women candidates including former State Congress women's wing president, Mrs. Lakshmi Albert.

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Section  : Southern States
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