Chennai, March 27 Two constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced their candidates for the April 23 Tamil Nadu elections on Friday, with one contesting on the BJP's Lotus symbol and the other on the Two Leaves symbol of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
While former Union Minister G.K. Vasan announced his party's candidates for the five constituencies allocated to his Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK), led by former MP Pariventhar, announced its nominees for two Assembly segments.
Vasan said his party, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), will contest on the BJP's Lotus symbol, while the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi will contest the election on the AIADMK's Two Leaves.
Addressing a press conference here, Vasan revealed the names of the five candidates at 12:12 pm, apparently referring to the auspicious time to make the announcement, in line with his "party's sentiments."
VM Karthikeyan will contest from Ranipet, while senior leader M. Yuvaraja has been fielded from Erode West. Former legislator 'Vidiyal' S. Sekar is the party's nominee for Oddanchathiram, while MKR Ashok Kumar will contest from Kumbakonam.
Vasan further announced that J. Nivin Simon is the party's candidate from Killiyoor constituency.
The party will contest the election on the BJP's Lotus symbol, he said, describing the NDA as a "victorious alliance."
"The public sentiment is in favour of the AIADMK-led NDA, which is a victorious alliance," Vasan added.
Meanwhile, IJK president Ravi Pachamuthu, addressing a press meet along with his father and party founder Pariventhar, said that party functionaries Venkatesan and Saranya Anbazhagan will contest from Pallavaram and Kunnam, respectively.
Pariventhar, a former Lok Sabha member, said the party will fight on the Two Leaves symbol.
Further, Puthiya Neeti Katchi, another NDA member, will contest from two seats, party chief AC Shanmugam said.
The party will contest on the Lotus symbol in one segment and the Two Leaves in the other, he told reporters.
Shanmugam indicated that the BJP has given one seat to him from its kitty of 27 in the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. He said the names of the constituencies to be contested by his party will be announced later.