PMK finalises candidates’ list; Sowmiya Anbumani to contest from Dharmapuri

CHENNAI: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has officially released the final list of candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections scheduled for April 23. As part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the PMK was allotted 18 seats. With three candidates having been announced previously, the party on Monday named the remaining 15 nominees, featuring a mix of seasoned legislators, party office-bearers, and prominent women functionaries.Pasumai Thaayagam president and his wife, Sowmiya Anbumani, will contest from the party's stronghold, Dharmapuri. Other notable candidates include party treasurer M Thilagabhama, who will contest from Perambur, party spokesperson and advocate K Balu (Thiruporur), Pattali women’s wing state secretary Tamizharasi Adhimoolam (Vriddhachalam). The party has retained its sitting MLAs in key constituencies to ensure continuity. S Sadhasivam will defend his seat in Salem North. C Sivakumar has been re-nominated for Vikravandi. A former MLA, M Karthi, will contest from Salem West, while state vice president Padi V Selvam from Pennagaram, propaganda wing secretary C R Baskaran from Polur and state joint general secretary K Vaithi from Jayankondam.District secretaries - advocate K Saravanan will contest from Sholinghur, Sittamalli A Palanisamy from Mayiladuthurai, P Maheshkumar from Utthiramerur, A P Sezhiyan from Rishivandiyam and state medical wing secretary Anbu Chozhan from Kattumannarkoil reserved constituency.The party had earlier announced that its general secretary, S Vadivel Ravanan, would contest from Keezhvelur, state deputy president N Sekar from Ambattur and A Ganesh Kumar from Gingee. The selection reflects a strategy to leverage local district secretaries and professional wing leaders, doctors and lawyers to counter the DMK-led alliance. With the candidates now locked in, the PMK is expected to begin a full-scale campaign alongside its ally, the AIADMK, focusing on the "unfulfilled promises" of the current DMK regime.