Chennai: Two sitting MPs who have been active in national politics are set to enter the fray in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled in a single phase on April 23.
The MPs are AIADMK leader and former minister C.V. Shanmugam, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol. Thirumavalavan. Political parties have already announced candidates and begun campaigning, with the DMK releasing its election manifesto on Sunday after the AIADMK had done so earlier.
Shanmugam, who served as a minister during the Jayalalithaa and EPS administrations, has previously won Assembly elections from Tindivanam (2001, 2006) and Villupuram (2011, 2016). After losing from Villupuram in 2021, he became a Rajya Sabha MP in June 2022. He is now contesting from the Mailam constituency.
Thirumavalavan earlier won the 2001 Assembly election from Mangalore and served until 2004, when he resigned. He later lost the 2016 Assembly election from Kattumannarkoil. In Lok Sabha contests from Chidambaram, he lost in 1999 and 2004, won in 2009, lost in 2014, and won again in 2019 and 2024. He will now contest the Assembly election from Kattumannarkoil.
Despite entering the Assembly race, both leaders have not resigned their MP positions so far, and are expected to decide on the matter after the election results.
