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No seats for DMK regulars: Ponmudi, R. Gandhi, Mano Thangaraj, and Kayalvizhi Selvaraj
DMK excludes four senior DMK regulars from the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and fields their children in Tirukoilur and Ranipet. The party released its list of 164 candidates on March 28, 2026. Coverage of these changes was published on April 21, 2026.
Why It Matters
The move signals a strategic shift in DMK's candidate selection ahead of the state elections and highlights ongoing questions about dynastic representation in Tamil Nadu politics.
Timeline
2 Events
Article publishing about DMK candidate list and seat-denials
April 21, 2026
The article detailing the DMK's 164-candidate list, the seat-denials of four senior leaders, and the fielding of their children from Tirukoilur and Ranipet was published.
DMK releases 164-candidate list and denies seats to four senior leaders
March 28, 2026
On March 28, 2026, the DMK released its list of 164 candidates for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and denied seats to four senior DMK regulars: K. Ponmudi, R. Gandhi, Mano Thangaraj, and Kayalvizhi Selvaraj. The party instead fielded Ponmudi's son Gowtham Sigamani from Tirukoilur, a constituency that elected Ponmudi in the 2021 election, and Gandhi's son Vinod Gandhi from Ranipet.