Karuna likely to contest from a rural seat

Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi is likely to contest from his birth place, Tiruvarur, in the coming assembly elections instead of Chepauk in Chennai, DMK sources said.

Following appeals from partymen and the view that a rural constituency would be a safer bet for Karunanidhi in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam, DMK leaders on Monday convinced him to contest from Tiruvarur, the sources said.
Karunanidhi was first elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1957 from the Kulithalai constituency, falling within Tiruchi district. He became the DMK treasurer in 1961 and deputy leader of the opposition in the assembly in 1962. If he decides to contest from Tiruvarur, this would be the first time since 1962 that the DMK leader would be shifting out of the city. DMK Tiruvarur district secretary Poondi K Kalaivannnan said partymen had been advised not to file nominations.