PMK's CM candidate Anbumani to contest from Pennagaram

Chennai, Apr 18: In his maiden attempt to enter the Tamil Nadu Assembly, PMK's chief ministerial candidate and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss will contest from Pennagaram constituency which falls under his Parliamentary seat.

Anbumani, son of PMK founder Ramadoss began his political career as Union Health Minister in the UPA I regime (2004-09) as a constituent of the Congress-led alliance. A doctor by profession, he was a Rajya Sabha MP during 2004-10.

"People elected me against the muscle and money power in 2014 Lok Sabha elections and people of the region now want me to contest from Pennagaram," he told reporters here.

He claimed that PMK was the "credible alternative" to both AIADMK and DMK. In a tweet, he said, "I assure to provide free, compulsory and high quality education to all children in Tamil Nadu."

Last year, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain his plea to quash charges against him in corruption cases.

The CBI had charged the former Minister with illegally granting renewal of approval for admissions to MBBS course in Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital in Bareilly, and allowing Index Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Indore to proceed with admissions without sufficient faculty.

PMK today named 90 candidates, including Anbumani and it has already announced nominees for 117 constituencies. The party is expected to name the rest of its nominees soon.

Party president G K Mani will contest from Mettur while PMK general secretary Vadivel Ravanan will be trying his luck from Vandavasi (Reserved) constituency.

PMK is contesting all the 234 constituencies alone. The party was part of the NDA during the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

PTI