DMK heavyweights, new entrant Ravindranath Kumar file applications for Assembly tickets

Chennai: DMK heavyweights E V Velu, V Senthil Balaji and new entrant P Ravindhranath Kumar, along with several other aspirants for party tickets for assembly election, submitted their applications at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters on Friday.

Minister E V Velu, accompanied by supporters, filed an application for Tiruvannamalai constituency on the last day of the exercise and said it remained a DMK stronghold since the party contested in the first election in 1957. "The trend will continue," he said. Former Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi N Somu filed an application to seek a party ticket.


Senthil Balaji, the party's go-to man in the western belt, expressed confidence about DMK's prospects, citing its performance in the 2021 assembly election, asserting that the party would register a massive victory in the election.

Earlier in the day, O Panneerselvam's son, P Ravindhranath Kumar, submitted applications seeking tickets for himself and his father to contest from the Andipatti and Bodinayakanur constituencies on DMK tickets.

"I submitted applications for the Andipatti and Bodinayakanur constituencies, while an application was submitted for OPS ayya for the Bodinayakanur constituency," said the former Theni MP, who joined DMK along with his father on Feb 27.

He submitted applications for himself and his father, proposing the candidature of chief minister M K Stalin and deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for three constituencies in Theni district, including Andipatti, Cumbum and Bodinayakanur.

After joining the party, Panneerselvam expressed his willingness to contest on DMK's ‘Rising Sun' symbol. The DMK leadership had assured him a seat either for himself or his son.

According to party insiders, more than 15,000 applications were received from aspirants, including sitting ministers and legislators. Several senior leaders and ministers submitted their applications through supporters./eom/shan/ MSID:: 129162060 413 |