Race for TN bypolls ticket intensifies within Congressmen

Chennai, May 27 (UNI) The race for the ticket to the Madurai West Assembly Constituency by-election on June 26 has intensified among the Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu.

The leaders owing allegiance to Former Congress Leader G K Moopanar's son and Union Minister G K Vasan and TNCC President M Krishnasamy have been working hard to pocket the only seat.

Considering the presence of numerous factions in the party, the Congress High Command would have a tough time to decide on its candidate.

DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had made it clear that the Congress, which was allotted the seat in May 2006 Assembly polls, could also contest the bypolls.

Ticket aspirants owing allegiance to different factions in TNCC were pulling strings through their leaders to grab the opportunity to contest the by-polls.

The seat was unsuccessfully contested by Mr N Perumal, a supporter of Congress Leader Sudarsana Nachiappan. It fell vacant after AIADMK MLA S V Shanmugam died early this year.

Mr Perumal, who had lost to Mr Shanmugham, was trying his luck this time also. However, it was not known whether Mr Nachiappan would endorse his candidature as he was reportedly trying to field his son and TNCC Human Rights Wing Secretary Jayasimha for the seat.

Meanwhile, Mr Vasan's loyal supporters were also pitching in to win the confidence of their leader. Among those trying their luck include INTUC's Govindaraj who failed to get a ticket in 2006 Assembly polls.

Another Vasan supporter and Former MP A G S Rambabu was also lobbying for the seat along with Mr Rajendran, who was the party's Madurai West Town Vice-President and a supporter of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Meanwhile, the TNCC today called for applications from aspirants.

Mr Krishnasamy told reporters he and Congress Legislature Party Leader D Sudarsanam would scrutinise the applications along with district party functionaries at Madurai and send the final name to the Party High Command in New Delhi.

The candidate would be announced by AICC President Sonia Gandhi, he added.

UNI