Pic Talk: Father Interviews Son For MLA Ticket

DMK youth wing secretary Udayanidhi was all smiles even while facing an unusual interview by his father and DMK chief M.K. Stalin. Other DMK leaders too enjoyed some humorous moments with Udayanidhi when he gave some witty replies to the interview panel .

Stalin grilled his son Udayanidhi to give him a ticket for the Chepauk-Triplicane Assembly constituency, which is the smallest among all in the state and also the favourite of his father and former CM M. Karunanidhi.

Stalin and Udayanidhi discussed what qualities in the latter make him the right choice from the constituency for the party.

Stalin was among the panel comprising DMK senior leaders, including T.R. Baalu and  Duraimurugan, who interviewed Udayanidhi. The formality began at 11.45 am and completed within 10 minutes during which the party leaders passed some jovial remarks and made the 43-year-old actor-politician smile. They questioned him about why he had chosen to contest from the constituency and also about what made him confident of emerging victorious from the place.

While Stalin was screening the application, Duraimurugan asked Udayanidhi about how much can he spend on the elections. To this, the youth wing leader reportedly said that he would spend whatever the party gave him.

This witty reply made the party senior leaders and A. Raja, also a member of the panel, burst into laughter while Udayanidhi’s father Stalin tried to hide his proud smile.

Later, Stalin also appeared for the interview for Kolathur segment and he was chosen unopposed as nobody else applied for the constituency.

Meanwhile, it is being said that Udayanidhi might not be given the ticket now as his father Stalin is against the idea. There is buzz that sons of second-rung leaders like E.V. Velu, K.N. Nehru and others have sought tickets and they would be given an opportunity. At the same time, Stalin does not want any criticism that he promoted his son. Moreover, Udayanidhi has to campaign for the DMK alliance across the state and will have no time to focus on his constituency, where the BJP fielded actress Khushboo, making it into a high-profile battle   .

As many as 8,300 applications were received seeking the tickets and 5,000 of them have been interviewed.

The final list of the chosen candidates is scheduled  to be released on March 10. Polls would be held on April 6.