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The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which is contesting the coming Lok Sabha polls as an ally of the AIADMK, has come out with its list of candidates. And topping it is V Vijaya Prabhakar, the son of the late matinee idol and party founder, ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth.
Prabhakar, who has been involved with DMDK activities but is making his electoral debut, will contest from Virudhunagar. It is set to emerge as one of the hot seats of the elections given that the BJP has fielded actor Radikaa Sarathkumar from here. The Congress, which is contesting the seat as part of the DMK alliance, is yet to announce its candidate.
Since several years now, as Vijayakanth battled health issues, DMDK general secretary and Vijayakanth’s wife Premalatha has been talking to the media about Prabhakar’s interest in politics, his “passion” for it and his “commitment” to campaigning across constituencies.
In March 2021, in an interview to The Indian Express, she said: “He has a lot of plans for the development of Tamil Nadu and the welfare of the people. He was upset when we quit the AIADMK alliance (in 2021, over seat differences in Assembly elections).”
Apart from Prabhakar, the other four names in the DMDK list are seasoned politicians, including former MLA P Parthasarathy from Central Chennai, K Nallathambi from Tiruvallur (SC), P Sivakolunthu from Cuddalore, and P Sivanesan for Thanjavur.
Both the DMK and BJP have fielded candidates here, making it a three-corner contest in these seats.
The AIADMK, which is leading the alliance that includes the DMDK, Social Democratic Party of India and Puthiya Thamizhagam, and contesting in 32 out of the state’s 39 seats, released its manifesto Friday, promising a number of welfare measures, including Rs 3,000 monthly aid to women heads of economically backward families.
The other promises include a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai, revision of pension schemes in line with inflation, and education reforms. The AIADMK also proposes a restructuring of the tax system to “benefit states” – a touchy issue in Tamil Nadu, which has accused the Centre of holding back the state’s share of funds, including taxes.
In other state-specific issues, the AIADMK advocates dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils; a contentious topic given that the Central government’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act does not include Sri Lanka among countries from where refugees can expect easy access to citizenship.
Other significant proposals include a hike in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi payout to Rs 12,000 annually, adjusting paddy and sugarcane prices favourably for farmers, and federal rights in the appointment of governors and in educational policies (again contentious issues in Tamil Nadu).
This is apart from promises regarding infrastructural improvements and suggesting policy changes such as loan waivers and revival of subsidies to help the economically distressed.
One of the prominent names in the BJP list released on Friday, its final one for the state, was that of Radhikaa Sarathkumar from Virudhunagar. This was expected after her husband R Sarathkumar merged his party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi with the BJP.
The BJP list includes R C Paul Kanagaraj, an advocate, from Chennai North; Pon V Balaganapathy from Tiruvallur (SC); A Ashwathaman from Tiruvannamalai; A P Muruganandham from Tiruppur; V Vasantharajan from Pollachi; and V V Senthilnathan from Karur.
K P Ramalingam, a seasoned politician with roots in both the DMK and AIADMK, will contest on the BJP ticket from Namakkal.
Besides, the party has placed its bets on former Vellore mayor P Karthiyayini from Chidambaram (SC) seat.
From the Puducherry sole Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has fielded its sitting Home Minister, A Namassivayam. A senior Congress leader, Namassivayam had joined the BJP in January 2021, with many others switching sides in his wake.
