Political novice to take on Jayalalitha

Chennai, Mar 30 (UNI) The DMK today pitted a political novice against Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in Andipatti for the May eight Assembly polls.

The DMK fielded Seeman, a film distributor, who is also running Seeman Tutorial Colleges, to take on Ms Jayalalithaa. She is seeking reelection from the constituency.

A native of Theni district, where Andipatti is located, Mr Seeman (50) has been a loyal partyman, but has never held any party post.

Mr Seeman's repeated attempts to get a party ticket bore fruit this time, though not from his native Cumbum as he wanted.

'I am happy the party has fielded me in Andipatti and I will defeat Ms Jayalalithaa,' he said confidently.

In 1996 too, the DMK fielded a local functionary E G Sugavanam against Ms Jayalalithaa in Bargur, but the DMK nominee sprang a surprise by defeating her and overnight shot into fame. Mr Sugavanam was subsequently elected to the Lok Sabha in the May 2004 elections.

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