Tamil Nadu polls: Congress releases candidate list, fields PMK leader’s son G K M Tamil Kumaran in Pennagaram

CHENNAI: After days of protracted discussions, Congress released its list of candidates for Tamil Nadu assembly elections on Friday, retaining 12 of its 17 sitting MLAs.

PMK leader G K Mani's son G K M Tamil Kumaran, who joined the Congress last Saturday has been fielded from vanniyar dominated Pennagaram constituency. Soon after the list was released, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said he would step down from the post after elections.

"I want to focus on Sriperumbudur constituency after the assembly polls. Therefore, I will step down from my party post," he said. Denying pressure from within or outside the Congress for him to resign the post, Selvaperunthagai said he would work hard for the party's success in the assembly election.

Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislature Party leader M Rajeshkumar have been renominated from Sriperumbudur and Killiyoor, respectively. Sitting MLAs J M H Aassan Maulaana (Velachery), Ruby R Manoharan (Nanguneri), Durai Chandrasekar (Ponneri) and S Mangudi (Karaikudi) have also retained their seats. Tharagai Cuthbert, who won the Vilavancode byelection in 2024, has been shifted to Colachel, which was represented by J G Prince in the outgoing Assembly. T T Praveen will contest from Vilavancode, where he will take on BJP candidate S Vijayadharani.

The selection of candidates triggered discontent among functionaries in some places including PEnnagaram. Congress functionaries alleged aspirants who had served the party for several years were ignored while a new comer has been fielded. In Erode East, functionaries opposed the announcement of Gopinath Palanippan as the candidate, alleging he was an `outsider.'

Congress is yet to finalise candidate for Melur segment.