Record number of heir apparents reflect dynastic politics

Chennai, Apr 27 (UNI) As many as seven 'heir apparents' in DMK, three from the ruling AIADMK and two from Congress, the main ally of the DMK in the Karunanidhi-Stalin led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) Front, are testing their strength in the May 8 assembly elections, with DMK Deputy General Secretary M K Stalin, son of party supremo M Karunanidhi being the star.

Mr Stalin, the former Mayor of Chennai, already declared by party leaders, as the prospective Chief Minister, is seeking to enter the assembly again from the prestigious Thousand Lights constituency in Central Madras.

A debutant, who will be attracting attention this time is M K Vishnu Prasad, son of the newly appointed TNCC President Krishnaswamy. Like Mr Stalin, Vishnu too heads the Youth Congress in the state. Vishnu will be trying his electoral fortunes from Cheyyar constituency.

Arul Anbarasu, son of the former TNCC president and Congress MP from down South, R Anabarasu, is the other prominent 'heir apparent' in fray, contesting from the temple town of Sholingur.

Another heir apparent in fray is Anbil Periasamy of the DMK. He is the second son of a senior party leader and a former state minister Anbil Dharmalingam. Hailing from Tiruchi, Periasamy is hoping to win again but from Tiruchi One constituency.

Mr Periasamy had taken to electoral politics in 2001 assembly polls and came up trumps from the Tiruchi-Two. He took the baton from his late elder brother, who had represented the Tiruchi-Two constituency in the 1996 polls.

There are two women among the largest number of heir apparents in fray this time. Poongothai Aruna, daughter of Aladi Aruna, another veteran politician, a DMK MLA and a former MP.

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