AIADMK

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa.

Jayalalithaa has sprung a surprise ahead of the April 13 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. She has fielded an AIADMK veteran who has earned a name for himself by running a successful free coaching centre for IAS aspirants to take on the DMK's heir apparent M. K. Stalin.
Her choice of Saidai S. Duraisamy for the newly carved Kolathur assembly seat clearly shows that she wants to give the DMK heavyweight a run for his money.
A former AIADMK legislator of the MGR era, the dhoti-clad Duraisamy, 59, has proved to be a politician with a difference.
During his heyday in politics, he was the powerful AIADMK district secretary in south Chennai. But then, for a long time, the amiable Duraisamy kept a low profile and engaged himself in charitable work.
To his credit, he never sought greener pastures and, now, patience and perseverance seem to have worked in his favour.
Though it was expected that the seasoned politician would get the party ticket, his name did not figure in the first candidates' list released by 'Amma' last week. In the revised list, however, his name was the cynosure of all eyes. And he is already on the campaign trail.
But, for this politico, the CM's seat was never a dream; becoming an IAS officer was. When he could not make it, he started helping aspirants, mostly from the poor sections, through his free coaching centre that he launched in 2006.