Less than 24 hours before the expiry of the deadline for filing of nominations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Indian National Congress on Tuesday night surprised everyone by announcing that State Mahila Congress president, Sudha Ramakrishnan, will be fielded as candidate for the Mayiladuthurai constituency. March 27 is the last date for filing of nominations.
A number of Congress leaders were competing to bag the Mayiladuthurai seat including the All India Professionals’ Congress chairman, Praveen Chakravarthy, veteran Congress leader, Mani Shankar Aiyer, Naesey Ramachandran and A. Chellakumar (incumbent M.P. from Krishnagiri). Ms. Sudha, till her name was declared, did not feature in the list of probable candidates.
Though the chances of Mr. Chakravarthy bagging the seat were considered slim, the names of Mr. Aiyer and Mr. Ramachandran were doing the rounds. The party eventually settled for a candidate from the Vanniyar community.
