Tamil Nadu polls 2016: DMK fields 19 women candidates

Chennai, April 19: The DMK, which is eyeing to return to power in Tamil Nadu after a decade, has fielded jut 16 women candidates in the unreserved seats while three in reserved ones. The party, which will contest the May 16 election in alliance with the Congress and some other smaller parties, is fighting in 173 seats.

Almost all the candidates are freshers eecept PA Aruna and Geetha Jeevan, who are contesting from Alangulam and Thoothukudi constituencies, respectively. The party has also fielded a new face in Simla Muthusolan against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from RK Nagar constituency. Simla is the daughter-in-law of former minister Sarguna Pandian.

The reserved seats in which the party has fielded candidates are Madurai, Sozhavandan and Sankarankoil. [DMDK's bizarre poll promises shock many]

The DMK's women candidate number, however, is better than what it was in 2011. In the previous election, it fielded 11 women candidates out of 124. In terms of percentage, it is 10.98 this year as against 8.87 last time.

The AIADMk, which is contesting in 227 seats, has fielded candidates in 31 seats (13.65 per cent).

None of the 16 unreserved seats are DMK strongholds

However, the DMK won none of the 16 seats from which it has fielded the women candidates. Even in 2006 when it came to power last, the DMK could win just five of the current seats allotted to the women.

Oneindia News