A day after the Election Commission of India announced the date for bye-election to the Thiruvarur Assembly constituency, the DMK is already abuzz with names of possible candidates who will contest from the seat held by former party chief M Karunanidhi. According to sources in the party, many DMK leaders want MK Stalin to contest from the seat and have conveyed their wish to the DMK President.
The leaders who are batting for Stalin include principle secretary TR Baalu and DMK whip in the assembly R Chakrapani. Sources confirm that TR Baalu met Stalin soon after the poll dates were announced. They are likely to reiterate their demand for Stalin’s candidature this evening again. The DMK Chief is already the elected representative from the Kolathur constituency in Chennai. For the DMK, the seat holds emotional and symbolic significance: the person who holds Thiruvarur will be seen as holding a part of Karunanidhi’s legacy. Some of these leaders want Stalin to hold the full claim. Sources close to Stalin however say that the demand had come as a surprise for him, and he was yet to take a decision.