Coimbatore: The DMK’s candidate interview process for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election saw sharp exchanges when party members raised objections to the possibility of allotting the Coimbatore South constituency to the Congress.
According to DMK participants, interviews for the district’s 10 constituencies were held in Chennai under the party leadership. Applicants were reportedly told that even if they had filed interest for multiple constituencies, they could attend an interview for only one seat.
In the Coimbatore South interview, around 35 aspirants took part. Participants said they were questioned on why the party had slipped to third place in the previous election. They argued that Congress had contested earlier but failed to deliver, and insisted that DMK should field its own candidate this time.
When the leadership noted that Congress had been allotted 28 constituencies and would also press its claims, attendees reiterated that Congress had suffered repeated defeats in the seat and urged that a local DMK candidate be given the opportunity. They were also told that whoever is chosen, party members must work together.
In the Singanallur interview, about 22 aspirants participated. Participants said they were asked why the vote share fell by 7% last time and who had contested and lost, with each functionary asked to explain how the party would win this time. Similar interviews were held for other constituencies as well.
