PTR’s son to contest from Madurai Central

DMK will take on AIADMK in a straight fight in eight seats in Madurai district

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has fielded senior leader and former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan’s son P.T.R. P. Thiagarajan in Madurai Central Assembly constituency. He is one among the five new faces chosen by the party.

An engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology (formerly known as Regional Engineering College) Tiruchi, Mr. Thiagarajan pursued his post-graduate degree and research in the New York State University.

After working in USA for several years, he served as Managing Director of Global Capital Markets, Standard Chartered Bank, Chennai, and was Senior Managing Director of Global Foreign Exchange and Money Markets of the SCB, Singapore.

As an academic, his research work was published in various journals and books. He had made presentations at scientific conferences in the US, Europe and Asian countries. He was a member of International Standards Organisation (ISO) Committee on Ergonomics.

Prestigious

Born into a family of politicians, Mr. Thiagarajan told The Hindu on Wednesday that he was thankful to the DMK for having chosen him to contest from the prestigious Madurai Central constituency in the “Rising Sun” symbol.

He said that the DMK alone would be able to bring in development in all spheres, as in the past, which would ultimately drive the State to a higher pedestal in terms of growth and open up employment opportunities.

Asked to comment on the electioneering strategy of the DMK, he said, “In the past, development works in the temple city were implemented only during M. Karunanidhi’s regime and it would speak for us. When my father was the Assembly Speaker, he was able to understand the problems of common man and built bridges and the Ring Road. I too would carry on the legacy, if elected.”

Heavyweights

Apart from Mr. Thiagarajan, the party has chosen party heavyweights and district secretaries P. Murthy, G. Thalapathi and Manimaran (son of former Speaker Sedapatti R. Muthiah) who will contest from Madurai East, Madurai West and Tirupparankundram respectively.

In Madurai South, “Malligai” Balachandran is the candidate, while in Melur A.P. Ragupathi is contesting the polls.

Advocate K. Ilamagilan in Usilampatti and Sripriya Thenmozhi, daughter of DMK functionary Sami, in Sholavandan (Reserved) are the other candidates.

The DMK has earmarked Madurai North and Tirumangalam to its ally Congress and thus the party will take on its arch political rival AIADMK in a straight fight in eight seats in Madurai district.