Thanjavur: With the AIADMK fielding former MLA M Rangasamy as the party’s candidate for the Thanjavur Assembly constituency for the polls on November 19, the mood among the party cadres is now upbeat.

Though the DMK has invited applications from the aspirants by October 20 with candidates interview scheduled for the next day, the party’s local leaders, expressed confidence that DMK would field Dr Anjugam Boopathy again, as she is already a familiar face and needs no introduction to the voters in the constituency.

The May 19 assembly polls to Thanjavur constituency, touted as a DMK forte, was countermanded by the election commission on the charges of cash distribution and other malpractices indulged by AIADMK candidate M Rangasamy.

The DMK has won here at least seven times—in 1962, 1971, 1977, 1989, 1996, 2001 and 2006—since 1962, against the AIADMK’s two wins in 1991 and 2011.

The AIADMK wrested Thanjavur Assembly seat from the DMK for the first time in 1991 when its candidate S D Somasundaram defeated DMK candidate SNM Ubayadullah by a margin of 19,861 votes. Again, in 2011 AIADMK man M Rangasamy defeated DMK candidate and then minister SNM Ubayaduallah by a margin of 7,329 votes.

It was a prestigious win for the AIADMK as Thanjavur is a traditional stronghold of DMK and Ubayadullah had won from Thanjavur four times in the past. Asked about her party inviting applications from the aspirants for Thanjavur assembly seat, Dr Boopathy, said that she was not disappointed. “The DMK is strictly following the democratic norms in selecting the candidates. I shall also file an application as an aspirant. But, party leaders will decide who should be fielded as party’s candidate,” she said.

The DMK south district secretary Durai Chandrasekaran, too reinforced this opinion. “It is a democratic norm. I am confident that Dr Anjugam Boopathy will be fielded again as party candidate as she is a well educated and a familiar candidate to the voters. As the party high command thought that Dr Anjugam stands a better chance, the party fielded her last time,” he said.

Asked about the AIADMK fielding Rangasamy again as party candidate for Thanjavur constituency, Chandrasekaran said that the people would decide who should be elected as their representative to the Assembly.