No tickets for Alagiri, backers

Chennai: The DMK virtually rejected an alliance with the Congress by unilterally announcing its list of 35 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, even while renominating 2G scam accused A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran. Party chief M Karunanidhi released the list of party candidates for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. It left five seats to its allies, VCK, IUML, MMK and PT.

Karunanidhi's son and former minister M K Alagiri and his supporters were totally sidelined in the allocation of tickets.

Karunanidhi's grand-nephew and former Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, also an accused in the 2G scam relating to the Aircel-Maxis
deal, too was renominated (Central Chennai).

Raja (Nilgiri-SC) and Maran (Central Chennai) have been allotted the same constituencies they represent in the current Lok Sabha.

The DMK list of 35 candidates included the lone seat in Puducherry. It denied renomination to 10 sitting MPs, retaining only eight , including former minister T R Baalu.

The party denied a ticket to Alagiri, Madurai MP, who was suspended from the DMK in January for indiscipline. His supporters, D
Napolean (Perambalur) and J K Rithieesh (Ramanathapuram) were also denied tickets.

Baalu moves from Sriperumbudur to Thanjavur, while T K S Elangovan also moves -- from North Chennai to South Chennai.

Karunanidhi maintained the charges against Raja and Maran were weak.

He declined to give a direct reply to Alagiri’s hint that he could consider launching a new party after two months.

V Veluchamy is the new candidate for Madurai.

Giving an indication of inclusion of more parties like the Left if they wanted to join the DMK-led alliance, Karunanidhi said the list was
subject to some changes later. He denied that talks were held with the Left or with the Congress.