EVKS Elangovan was the Union Minister of State in the UPA regime. (file)
Chennai:
Former Union minister EVKS Elangovan is the Congress party’s candidate for the February 27 Erode (East) bypoll, the party announced on Sunday. Citing an AICC announcement, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has approved Elangovan’s candidature for the bypoll.
The bypoll was announced a few days back by the Election Commission following the death of Elangovan’s son Erode (East) MLA E Thirumahan Evra on January 4, 2023. Evra was 46 years old.
Though Erode district functionary Makkal Rajan urged the party leadership to nominate him, it was expected that the high command may give ticket to Sanjay Sampath, Elangovan’s younger son, party sources said.
A senior functionary said the party chose Mr Elangovan considering his seniority and popularity. Mr. Elangovan, 74, is a former MLA and MP and was the Union Minister of State (Commerce and Industry) in the UPA regime.
The BJP is expected to announce its stand on the bypolls soon, but its ally, the main opposition AIADMK, is keen to contest the polls. O Panneerselvam, a loyalist of Leader of the Opposition K Palaniswami and leading the rival AIADMK faction, has met Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai in connection with the bypolls.
Panneerselvam has offered to stay out of the race if the BJP decides to contest the bypolls. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) led by GK Vasan, an ally of the AIADMK, contested from the Erode (East) seat.
The Congress is part of the secular progressive alliance led by the ruling DMK. Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi are the constituents. The DMK allotted the assembly seat to the Congress.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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