Pondy CM to contest for record fifth time

Pondicherry, Apr 20 (UNI) Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today filed his nomination paper for the fifth time from Thattanchavady constituency.

Mr Rangasamy, who contested the election for the first time in 1990, was defeated by a former minister V Pethaperumal at Thattanchavady, The Chief Minister, however, wrested the seat from Mr Pethaperumal in 1991, who held the constituency from 1974. Mr Rangasamy, subsequently won the polls in 1996 and 2001.

Mr Pethaperumal, is not in the fray, as he had joined the Congress, quitting the Janata Dal.

The former Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, a contestant in the poll, lost to Subbraya Gounder from Nettapakkam constituency in 1980 elections.

Mr Vaithilingam, subsequently held the constituency in 1985, 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2001. His brother Muthunarayana Reddiyar was his opponent in 1996 and 2001. He contested as an Independent in 1996 and on the ticket of the then Puducherry Makkal Congress in 2001.

In this election too, Mr Reddiyar is contesting against Mr Vaithilingam as a candidate of the newly floated Puducherry Munnetra Congress(PMC).

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