Jaya to go with Hindu candidate in Muslim areas

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced her party candidates for the Saidapet, Acharapakkam (Reserve) and Vaniyambadi constituencies, which go to polls on May 31.

Radha Ravi, an actor-cum-politician, has been named for Saidapet while Polambakkam unit secretary A. Poovaraghamurthy will contest from Acharapakkam. For Vaniyambadi, the party’s farmers wing secretary R. Vadivel is the candidate. What could come as a surprise is Jayalalithaa’s move to put up a Hindu candidate in the predominantly Muslim constituency of Vaniyambadi in Vellore district. Her move comes at a time when she is criticised for not including a Muslim in her Cabinet and for soft-pedalling the Gujarat carnage.