DMK turns down Cong request

The DMK has named three candidates for the elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, effectively quashing speculations of former prime minister Manmohan Singh being fielded from Tamil Nadu. It was widely reported that Congress had sought one seat for Manmohan Singh as the former PM’s term from Assam had come to an end. As per the electoral agreement, the DMK has decided to allocate one seat to MDMK chief Vaiko from its current quota of three. The DMK will contest on the remaining two seats. According to a statement from party president MK Stalin, party trade union leader M Shanmugam and senior advocate P Wilson are the nominees for the biennial election, slated on July 18.