| The latest entrant is Dorai Gopalaswamy, son of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko. Popularly known as Dorai, he is likely to contest from the party's stonghold of south Tamil Nadu. "He is seriously involved in party matters and will be contesting this time," said a source close to him. |
| Next in line is Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, son of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) chief Ramadoss. Although a Rajya Sabha member, he will be actively involved in the Assembly elections as senior Ramadoss is not well. |
| "Although a national role has been envisaged for Dr Ramadoss, his father's ill health has forced him into state politics," said a source. Ramadoss will closely monitor the distribution of tickets although it is unlikely that he will contest. |
| DMK chief M Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin, a former Mayor of Chennai, is not new to state politics but will be given a prominent role this time. His cousins Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran are already in politics. While Dayanidhi Maran has been made a Union minister from the DMK quota, the fact that Stalin has been kept away from Delhi is being seen as a sign that he will play a bigger role in the state. |
| Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram and DMK chief Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi have teamed up to float a non-political outfit, Karuthu (Views). |
| The outfit, formed after protests over remarks of actress Khushboo, aims to fight for free speech.While Karti Chidambaram was a delegate at the AICC session in Hyderabad, Kanimozhi is a social activist. |
| All of them, with the exception of Karti Chidambaram, are with the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), led by the DMK. |
| Meanwhile, spiking talks of desertions from the DPA, leaders of the seven-party combine today resolved to remain united and decided to complete the seat-sharing exercise within the next fortnight. |
| Karunanidhi appealed to the constituents to adopt a "give and take approach" during the exercise to defeat the J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government. |
| The MDMK, which was not a part of any front in the last elections, has joined the alliance. |
| Talking to reporters, Karunanidhi said the number of seats each party would contest would be announced at the DMK's state-level conference, beginning at Tiruchirappalli on March 3. |
| Although the seats would be identified during the talks, the announcement would be made after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule, he said. |
| "The meeting was cordial," said Vaiko, general secretary of the MDMK, which was being reportedly invited by the AIADMK for an alliance. |
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