CHENNAI: AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan has been named the party's candidate for the by-election to the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai on December 21. The decision was made at the AIADMK Parliamentary Board headed by party coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami.
There were others keen to contest, including secretary of the MGR Mandram A Tamilmagan Hussain, former secretary of the South Chennai district unit Adhi Rajaram and the party's nominee in the constituency in the 996 Assembly elections RMD Raveendran. Madhusudanan however, argued that he should be fielded as he was denied the ticket in 2011 due to “pressure” from sidelined AIADMK leader VK Sasikala. He was finalised owing to his loyalty towards the party and his experience and seniority.
Opposition DMK has retained its candidate Marudu Ganesh, while sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran confirmed his candidature for the by-election which was necessitated following the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
