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The (*60*) Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday launched its list of candidates for the Assembly polls, retaining most of its Ministers whereas introducing 60 new faces, together with 4 Mayors. The list additionally includes 19 girls candidates. Of the 164 nominees, 15 are medical doctors, 17 engineers, 29 advocates, and seven maintain Ph.Ds.
Though it was extensively rumoured that senior Minister Duraimurugan wouldn’t contest this time, Mr. Stalin introduced that the Minister will as soon as once more enter the fray from the Katpadi constituency. First elected to the Assembly in 1971, he has since been elected 10 instances, and is getting into the fray for the thirteenth time this election.
Among the Mayors getting into the fray are R. Mahesh, who will contest from Kanniyakumari constituency; Tiruppur Mayor N. Dinesh Kumar, from Tiruppur South constituency; Thanjavur Mayor Shan. Ramanathan from Thanjavur constituency; and Hosur Mayor S. A. Sathya from Hosur constituency.
Ministers dropped
Sitting Ministers — Handlooms and Textiles Minister R. Gandhi, Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj, and Human Resources Management Minister Kayalvizhi Selvaraj — have been denied tickets. Former Environment and Forest Minister Ok. Ramachandran has opted out of the race owing to well being causes.
Former Higher Education Minister Ok. Ponmudy, who had resigned from the DMK Ministry, has been dropped. Instead, his son Gowtham Sigamani has been fielded in Tirukovilur Assembly constituency, which elected Mr. Ponmudy in 2021. Vinod Gandhi, son of Mr. Gandhi, will contest from Ranipet constituency. The DMK has nominated A. Subair Khan, an orthopaedic surgeon and son of the late A. Rahman Khan, for Royapuram constituency. In Tirumangalam constituency, the celebration has fielded Sedappati Manimaran, son of former Speaker Sedapatti Muthiah, who defected from the All India Anna (*60*) Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Former Minister V. Senthilbalaji, a strongman from Karur, will contest from the Coimbatore South constituency, which was gained by Vanathi Srinivasan of the Bharatiya Janata Party within the 2021 Assembly election.
In Kanniyakumari district, former Minister N. Suresh Rajan has additionally been denied a ticket. A. Maharajan, the DMK candidate for the Andipatti constituency, is contesting for the third time and will face his brother A. Logirajan. Mr. Maharajan gained the earlier two elections.
Published – March 28, 2026 11:50 pm IST
