Sunday, April 2 2006 12:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu the ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK are facing dissent and desertions from their fold with partymen publicly opposing some of the candidates chosen for the coming Assembly polls.

The battle lines are drawn with most of the parties, including AIADMK and DMK, having completed the seat sharing exercise among their partners and selection of candidates without any hitch, but the two Dravidian parties are facing dissidence over the choice of nominees. For the first time in recent times, rebellion was open in the monolithic AIADMK with partymen wanting change of candidates in so many places. The party has already announced changes in five constituencies and some more were expected.

Though party supremo Jayalalithaa had started her campaign, petitions were mounting against the selection of 'little known persons' as candidates in some constituencies, AIADMK sources said. The partymen had publically protested against the nomination of Sivagami Vincent in Dharapuram on the plea that she had switched over from PMK on the eve of elections.

AIADMK MLA from Nagercoil Henry Austin has quit the party and announced his decision to contest as an independent, protesting allocation of the constituency to MDMK.

In the DMK front, dissidence was much more pronounced.

DMK MLA Asokan, who represented Tiruvarur in the outgoing assembly, joined AIADMK last evening after being denied party ticket. On Friday, DMK strongman in Cuddalore district A G Sampath resigned from the party, protesting allocation of his Mugaiyur seat to the PMK.

Sampath had been elected from the seat for two terms while his mother Padmavathy also won the seat for as many times. His father and DMK founder late C N Annadurai's close associate, A Govindasamy, had represented the seat for a number of years.

Another seat witnessing dissidence is Tiruvidaimaruthur, which had been represented by A Ramalingam of DMK on a numberof times. The seat had been allocated to PMK, leading to protests in that area.

PMK, a constituent of the DMK-led Democratic ProgressiveAlliance, has also had its share of woes. Its former MLA PGovindan had been expelled from the party for 'working against' party nominee S Kanniayan at Taramangalam.

With reports of protests from some other constituencies pouring in, more such disciplinary action was likely.

Congress was the first party to face revolt infact much before the election dates were announced with former TNCC president K Ramamurthee demanding more seats for the party from DMK.

The high command not only expelled him from the party but also appointed a fellow Vanniya, M Krishnasamy, as the TNCC chief in place of Union Minister G K Vasan to avoid any backlash from the backward Vanniya community. Ramamurthee had been protesting 'neglect' of the community by the party central leadership.