CHENNAI: PMK has announced C Anbumani as its candidate for the by-election for Vikravandi assembly constituency, on Saturday.
C Anbumani is presently the party's state vice president.
It may be noted that the NDA alliance led by BJP has allocated the constituency to its ally PMK.
"PMK will contest on behalf of NDA alliance in Vikravandi bypoll, which is to be held on July 10," party founder S Ramadoss said in a statement. Soon after the announcement, C Anbumani met the founder at the latter's residence in Thailapuram.
Anbumani contested unsuccessfully in the 2016 assembly election in the same constituency. He secured 41,119 votes, which is 23.19 per cent votes. DMK's N Pugazhenthi, whose death forced the by-poll, secured 63,203 votes against AIADMK's 56,622 votes.
It may be noted that PMK has reversed its stand of not contesting in by-elections. The party contested in a by-poll in 2010.
From the moment NDA allotted the constituency to PMK, speculations were rife that the party would field a family member of 21 persons, who were killed in police firing in 1987 during Vanniyar agitation.
"As the party leadership could not find any suitable candidate from the families. So they fielded Anbumani again, " a party source said.
However, Anbumani hails from Panaipuram village where 8 agitators were killed during the 1987 protest.