PC loyalist gets Cong nod for Mylapore

With the Congress releasing its final list of candidates on Friday, the fight for the Mylapore seat in the heart of Chennai could become an interesting one. Long-time Congressman and P Chidambaram loyalist Karate S Thiagarajan has been allotted Mylapore.

Even before the real campaign began, a lot of backdoor lobbying was underway as Chidambaram and state Congress chief EVKS Elangovan were each trying to find slots for their favourites. Elangovan wanted to field Congress spokesperson Khusbhu Sundar in Mylapore. Thiagarajan, as his name suggests, is president of Karate Association of India, and a former deputy mayor of Chennai.

Congress has now named its candidates for all 41 seats it is contesting in alliance with DMK. Maduravoyal in Tiruvallur district has been allotted to Nassey Rajesh, son of TNCC treasurer Ra machandran, who is backed by Elangovan.

Dalit leader and former VCK activist K Selvaperuthagai will contest from Sriperumbudur. He is said to have joined the party three years ago with Chidambaram's backing but has since fallen out with his mentor.

M K Vishnuprasad, a doctor and son of former state party chief M Krishnaswamy, who is said to enjoy a good equation with Chidambaram, will contest from Cheyyar. In Kangeyam in Tirupur district, district unit functionary P Gopi, a loyalist of for mer TNCC chief K Thang kabalu, will run for office.

Former MLA Rani Venkatesan is contesting from Srivaikuntam, while Gounder leader Sreeraj Chokkar will fight from Sivakasi and advocate S Rajesh Kumar from Killiyoor.

The Udhagamandalam district unit chief R Ganesh who was on the first list has been re placed by B Ramachandran, a block unit leader.