Tamil Nadu polls 2016: DMK faces protest over candidate selection

Chennai, April 14: The DMK faced protests from a section of its supporters in Tirunelveli, Vellore and Pudukottai on Wednesday evening over the selection of candidates for some seats in the May 16 elections, reported local television reports.

The protests occurred soon after party chief and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi announced names of candidates for 173 seats the party is contesting. The party has given the rest of the 61 seats to its allies, including the Congress (41).

The protests took a serious turn when the supporters of TPM Maideen Khan, the incumbent MLA from Palankottai seat in Tirunelveli district clashed with those against him. While Khan's supporters celebrated his nomination by bursting crackers, the opponents burnt his effigies.

A section of DMK candidates from the Nellai, Vellore and Pudhukottai on Wednesday evening took to streets to protest the selection of candidates for some seats in the upcoming elections, reported Puthiya Thalaimurai TV.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi announced the candidates for the 173 seats that the party is contesting, earlier in the evening.

Clashes broke out between the protesters and supporters of incumbent MLA TPM Maideen Khan's selection for the Palayankottai seat in the Nellai district. While the protesters burnt effigies of Maideen Khan, the supporters celebrated his candidature by bursting crackers.

In Vellore district, a faction of DMK supporters opposed the selection of district secretary AP Nandakumar for the Anaikattu constituency and demanded the candidature of senior party worker from the district, Babu. The angry protesters even barged into the party's district headquarters and carried out vandalism.

Oneindia News