Jaya to contest from Srirangam; shuts door on MDMK

Virtually shutting the door on its long time ally, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday announced that it will contest 160 seats for the April 13 assembly polls, with chief Jayalalithaa seeking election from the temple town of Srirangam.

Party heavyweights including former chief minister O Panneerselvam (Bodinayakkanur), presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan (R K Nagar) and headquarters secretary K A Senkottaiyan (Gobichettpalayam) found place in the first list released by Jayalalithaa.

By naming candidates for 160 seats, Jayalalithaa has effectively ruled out any rapprochement with her sulking ally, the Vaiko-led MDMK, the only party remaining in the front since 2006.

 Jayalalithaa appeared to have gone in for a safe seat as Srirangam had given her party nominee Kumar a lead of over 10,000 votes in the Lok Sabha polls enabling him to win the Tiruchirappalli seat in 2009.

Of the 56 sitting AIADMK members of Legislative assembly, more than half were denied tickets. The list of candidates is a blend of youth and experience.

 In the rainbow alliance led by AIADMK, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam floated by actor Vijaykant has been allotted 41 seats, Manithanaya Makkal Katchi three, Puthiya Tamizhagam two, Samatuva Makkal Katchi of actor Sarathkumar two and All India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam, All India Forward Bloc, KMIP and the Republican Party of India one each. Communist party of India-Marxist and Communist Party of India were allotted 12 and 10 seats respectively.