DMK pushes for Aranthangi seat, Congress hopes to hold ground

Pudukottai: Despite growing sentiment among DMK cadres that the Aranthangi assembly seat should be contested by their own party in the upcoming poll, the Congress remains optimistic about retaining it, even in the face of mounting resistance.DMK sources said as many as 40 aspirants had submitted applications to contest from Aranthangi and were interviewed by chief minister M K Stalin. Among them is former DMK MLA Udayam Shanmugam, who has been at odds with the incumbent Congress MLA S T Ramachandran, son of Su Thirunavukkarasar. At times, their differences have spilled out into the open as well. "There was a DMK MLA here only in 1962, 1967, 1971 and 2006. In the last three elections, we allowed Congress to contest, and they won only the most recent one in 2021. Ideally, this time, the seat should go to DMK," Shanmugam said. In the past, he has also publicly accused the sitting MLA of failing to bring meaningful development to the constituency. In one instance, he even brandished a machete after not being formally invited to a stone-laying ceremony.Functionary P Senthilvelan claimed that the relationship between the Congress MLA and DMK local unit is strained. "The MLA does not even coordinate with DMK. There is a widespread sentiment among cadres that fielding a Congress candidate again could hurt the prospects of victory," he said. Another DMK source said that the party needs to strengthen its foothold in Pudukottai, as even the four parliamentary constituencies which include all the six assembly segments from Pudukottai, are held by alliance partners. "The chief minister heard all this discontent. However, he also reiterated the importance of coalition dharma."The constituency is home to Thirunavukkarasar, a former Union minister for state and ex-TNCC president, who has won the seat six times representing different parties. Banking on this legacy—and the incumbent MLA's lineage—Congress leaders are optimistic about retaining the constituency. "We have been informally hinted that the seat will be retained. No matter what the local DMK has to say, the MLA has brought development to the constituency," a party source said. When asked whether Congress is pushing to retain all constituencies it had previously won, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said, "Talks have not begun yet on this. A formal decision will be arrived at after discussions are completed."In Pudukottai, there are six assembly segments. Three of them are held by DMK MLAs, two of whom are ministers. The other two MLAs are from Congress and CPM, while the other one is held by AIADMK's C Vijayabhaskar.