People's Welfare Front candidate and VCK president
Thol Thirumavalavan
filed his papers for Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district and declared assests worth Rs 59.5 lakh.
Later, Thirumavalavan, who is contesting assembly polls after 15 years, expressed optimism that he would win. He lauded MDMK founder leader Vaiko for taking a daring decision to opt out of the electoral race to maintain communal harmony in his constituency. Pointing out that there were many thatched houses in Cuddalore, Villupuram and Ariyalur, he promised to construct concrete houses in Kattumannarkoil, if elected. He also promised to implement Aruvamooku scheme (to establish a 1.8 km channel at an estimated cost of `5.3 crore to prevent flooding in the district) and desilt Veeranam Lake.
Former Lok Sabha MP Thirumavalavan failed to retain Chidambaram, losing to AIADMK candidate M Chandrakasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He won the seat in 2009 defeating PMK's E Ponnusamy.