This Article is From Apr 23, 2016

Tamil Nadu Polls: This 77-Year-Old Will Challenge Jayalalithaa On Her Home Turf

Vasanthi Devi is contesting elections from RK Nagar constituency in Tamil Nadu.

Chennai: Vasanthi Devi, a two-time Vice Chancellor and former chairperson of Tamil Nadu women's commission. Ms Devi, 77, will take on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the RK Nagar constituency where she seeks a second term next month.

Fielded by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) representing the Vijayakanth alliance, the academician turned activist and politician says the key issues on which she is contesting elections are corruption and what she calls "the inefficient handling of the recent floods by the Jayalalithaa government".

She adds, "I'll fight to show that another world is possible. This is not the fate of the people of Tamil Nadu or the people of the country."

After her acquittal in the assets case, Ms Jayalalithaa chose to contest elections from RK Nagar constituency, where she won with a margin of more than 1.5 lakh votes in 2015.

Congress sources say the party wanted to field actor Khusbu but the DMK fielded Simala Muthuchozhan.

Also contesting from the same constituency is transgender C Devi from Naam Thamizhar Katchi and P Agnes from the PMK.

It could well be symbolic fight, but certainly it seems parties are not taking it lightly.
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