Jayalalithaa releases list of AIADMK's Rajya Sabha candidates

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu today released its list of five candidates for the Rajya Sabha. The elections are scheduled for the 26th of this month.

The list includes Dr V Maithreyan, sitting Rajya Sabha MP whose term ends soon; K R Arjunan, AIADMK's  District Secretary  in Nilgiris; T Rathnavel, the party's Secretary for Sub Urban area in Trichy; R Lakshmanan, the party's face in Villupuram district; and S Saravanaperumal, the party's Student Wing Secretary.

AIADMK has a total strength of 151 seats in Tamil Nadu assembly. With 34 seats required to elect a Rajya Sabha MP, the party would be able to win four seats on its own. For the fifth seat, the party would require the support of the left and a few smaller parties in Tamil Nadu.

There were speculations that the AIADMK would also extend support to Left parties for re-election of CPI's National Secretary Mr D Raja. Mr A B Bardhan, a senior leader from CPI, met Ms Jayalalithaa in Delhi today seeking support for his party's candidate. But AIADMK sources say Amma is in favour of Mr D Pandian, CPI's State Secretary.