Heavyweights, fresh faces to face off in Madurai

Madurai: Seasoned veterans and a new wave of challengers will slug it out in the assembly election in Madurai this time.In Madurai West, AIADMK veteran Sellur K Raju prepares to contest for the fourth time, facing off against DMK's Ragu Balaji, an electoral newcomer. In Thiruparankundram, a traditional AIADMK stronghold, veteran leader V V Rajan Chellappa seeks a third term against another DMK newcomer, Kiriuthiga Thangapandi.Again, it's experience versus fresh blood in Thirumangalam, where DMK has fielded Sedapatti M Manimaran to challenge deputy leader of opposition R B Udhayakumar, currently contesting for his fourth term. In Madurai East, AIADMK's Mangulam K Mahendran will taken on commercial taxes minister P Moorthy. In Madurai North, AIADMK candidate Saravanan till attempt to unseat sitting MLA G Thalapathy.In Sholavandhan, the race has evolved into a complex three-way contest. Sitting MLA A Venkatesan faces former AIADMK MLA Manickam, but the entry of TVK candidate M V Karuppaiah, himself a former AIADMK MLA, may split the traditional opposition vote. In Madurai South, sitting MLA Boominathan is waiting for the BJP to announce his opponent.Meanwhile, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has made a strategic move from his current seat, Tirunelveli, to Sattur constituency in Virudhunagar district.DMDK has introduced a legacy element in Virudhunagar, by fielding Vijaya Prabhakaran, son of the late Vijayakanth, against AIADMK's V G Ganesan. NTK chief Seeman has set his sights on Karaikudi, where he will engage in a battle against Therbogi Pandi of the NDA alliance, and a candidate of the Congress.