TN assembly polls: Alliance tussle over Manapparai intensifies, DMK keen to reclaim seat amid rival interest

TRICHY: Manapparai, a nondescript assembly constituency in Trichy district, is now the cynosure of political attention as several parties in the DMK alliance are eyeing the economically backward segment, while DMK is equally keen to contest there. Ever since the constituency was re-established after the 2008 delimitation exercise, DMK has never contested there in an assembly election, but its allies did.The constituency comprises arid and economically backward regions of southern Trichy, including Marungapuri, Valanadu, and Ponnampatti. With ministers KN Nehru and Mahesh Poyyamozhi recontesting in Trichy West and Thiruverumbur respectively, DMK is eager to recontest in Trichy East, Srirangam, Manachanallur, Lalgudi, Musiri, and Thuraiyur, with the likelihood of Manapparai going to allies. Manapparai's incumbent MLA is Abdul Samad of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) who contested on DMK's rising sun symbol in 2021. Sources said both Congress and MDMK are now interested in the constituency, which DMK last contested in 1962. "DMK should allocate one of the nine assembly segments in Trichy district to Congress. We were not given an opportunity to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Trichy, so we expect Manapparai," J Rajesh Kumar, Congress state secretary from Manapparai, said. MDMK has also expressed interest in the seat though its first choice is Trichy East. If DMK fields incumbent MLA Inigo Irudhayaraj there again, MDMK may settle for Manapparai, sources said. MDMK's senior leader Dr Rohaiyaah Shaik Mohammed is considered the frontrunner to contest. However, as AIADMK is planning to field former MP P Kumar, also Trichy rural south district secretary, in Manapparai, DMK expects a tough contest. As the opposition may raise anti-incumbency in Manapparai, which is traditionally an AIADMK bastion, DMK said it wants the rising sun symbol to contest. "In the past three assembly elections, Manapparai was traded to allies. This move has systematically weakened DMK's presence in rural areas. A DMK candidate, and not an ally, should contest on our symbol," a DMK functionary said. While Pannapatti Govindarajan was named as one of the potential candidates, sources said the party's medical wing deputy organiser Dr Mohammed Hakkim, a youngster, has submitted an application for the constituency too.