Congress Candidate Colachel Tharahai Cuthbert | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Congress on Friday finally released the list of candidates for 27 of the 28 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies allotted to it by the DMK for the upcoming elections.
It retained 12 sitting MLAs, including the lone legislator Tharahai Cuthbert, but shifted her from Vilavancode to Colachel.
Another candidate is V. Shrinithi Naidu, who is posted in Singanallur. Ms. Shrinithi contested from Udumalaipettai on Makkal Needhi Maiam ticket in 2021 and got around 8100 votes. Local Congress cadres staged a protest against her candidature.
The list was released after lengthy discussions in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar retained their Sriperumbudur and Killiyoor seats, respectively.
Killiyoor Congress Candidate S. Rajesh Kumar | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
New entrant GKM Tamil Kumaran, son of former Pattali Makkal Katchi president GK Mani, has been given the seat in Pennagaram, despite strong opposition from some senior leaders.
The party has given the Vilavancode seat to TT Praveen, who is said to be influential among the Christian community. He will contest against S. Vijayadharini, a former Congress MLA who joined the BJP before the last assembly elections.
The party is yet to announce its candidate for Melur as influential Congress leaders are apparently hoping to field one of their supporters there.
MLA Durai Chandrasekar will contest again from his Ponneri (SC) constituency. Congress MLAs for Velachery and Sholinghur – JMH Aassan Maulaana and AM Munirathinam – will also contest from their respective seats.
Former Krishnagiri MP A. Chella Kumar was fielded in the Krishnagiri constituency; Gopinath Palaniyappan in Erode East whose seat was earlier held by late EVKS Elangovan and late Thirumagan EV Raa.; and B. Ramachandran in Udhagamandalam.
KP Surya Prakash will contest from Kavundampalayam and AS Chandrasekaran from Cuddalore.
G. Ashokan, Congress Candidate for Sivakasi Assembly Constituency | Photo credit: HANDOUT
Congress candidates in Singanallur, Kavundampalayam and Cuddalore will face AIADMK candidates – Jayaram KR, PRG Arunkumar and MC Sampath – respectively.
S. Mangudi retains the Karaikudi constituency, where a four-cornered contest is expected to also pit Naam Tamilar chief Katchi Seeman, Therboki Pandian Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and Prabhu of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
T. Saravana Kumar will contest from Usilampatti and Ganesan Ashokan has been given a Sivakasi ticket – both of them will be fighting AIADMK candidates I. Mahendran and KT Rajendra Bhalaji.
Rama Karumanickam retained the Tiruvadanai seat and S. Oorvashi Amirtharaj the Srivaikuntam segment. Ruby Manoharan will once again contest from Nanguneri.
While Sangai Ganeshan was fielded from Sankarankovil (SC) constituency, M. Vichu Lenin Prasath was fielded from Thuraiyur (SC), SK Arthanari from Attur (SC) and R. Kuppu Samy from Uthangarai (SC).
T. Rama Chandhiran was built from Aranthangi; VP Durai of Ambasamudram; and Jamal Yunus Mohammed from Mayiladuthurai instead of sitting MLA S. Rajakumar.
Jothimani’s critic
Congress MP Karur S. Jothimani criticized her party’s selection of candidates and accused Mr. Selvaperunthagai and other office bearers of ignoring the sentiments of the party cadre.
“The Kongu Vellala Gounder community, which has a majority in 38 assembly seats in the influential Kongu belt, and the Arunthathiyar community have been denied opportunities. This is unprecedented in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu,” she said in a statement.
Published – April 4, 2026 0:45 AM IST
