Chennai: The list of 27 constituencies allotted to BJP shows that AIADMK has limited the number of seats to the saffron ally in Coimbatore and Chennai to just one seat each despite demands for more. Tirunelveli constituency, where BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran contested in the previous election, has not been allotted this time to the saffron party. Instead, Sattur, which was touted as a probable seat for the BJP leader has been allotted. Radhapuram remains the only seat in Nainar’s home district, but he has never contested there and it is held by DMK MLA and assembly Speaker M Appavu. But for Tiruchendur, one of the six abodes or Lord Muruga, none of the constituencies with places of religious significance have been allotted to BJP. Only two of the four constituencies won by BJP in 2021 poll has been reallocated to it.BJP sources said they were eyeing Singanallur and Kavundampalayam seats in Coimbatore district in an apparent bid to field former state president K Annamalai. AIADMK had offered Palladam, but Annamalai was reluctant since it was the constituency where he had polled least during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. BJP sources said Tirupur South was likely to be allotted to Kadeswara Thangaraj, son of Hindu Munani president Kadeswara Subramaniam. In Avinashi (reserved), there was likelihood of Union minister L Murugan being fielded, while in Modakuruchi, sitting BJP MLA C Saraswathi’s relative is touted as the candidate. Coimbatore South, where BJP women’s wing president Vanathi Srinivasan defeated MNM president Kamal Haasan in 2021, has been held back by AIADMK this time. Instead, Vanathi is likely to be fielded from Coimbatore North. AIADMK sources said former minister S P Velumani’s close aide Amman Arjunan would be fielded in Coimbatore South. In Chennai, BJP has been restricted to a single seat — Mylapore, where former Telengana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was set to contest. BJP had sought Velachery, T Nagar, Harbour, Virugambakkam and Alandur too, expecting at least three urban seats, but failed to secure them. This means functionaries such as Vinoj P Selvam and S J Suryah who were working in these segments would have to look for other seats or stay out of the polls. BJP will contest four seats in Kanniyakumari — Nagercoil, Colachel, Vilavancode and Padmanabhapuram. Of these, it is likely to face Congress directly in Colachel and Vilavancode, both considered its strongholds.
