K N Nehru gets DMK ticket for Tiruchy (W)

TIRUCHY: Though he is in the prison, the announcement of former minister K N Nehru as the candidate for Tiruchy West seems to be an expected one as far as party workers are concerned. Putting a full stop to all speculations about DMK’s stand on the by-poll, party chief M Karunanidhi’s announcement enthralled the Tiruchy cadre.Nehru (57), a PUC, who hailed from Kanakiliyanallur in Lalgudi, Tiruchy, became the executive member of party in 1992 and became Tiruchy in-charge in 1993. Later he became the Zonal Secretary. Till 1998, Nehru was the zonal secretary and then became the District Secretary, which he continues to be so. Though Nehru’s career started as Pullambadi Union Chairman in 1986, he became the MLA of Lalgudi in 1989 and was elevated as Minister for Electricity. Later, he became minister for Dairy Development and Information and Publicity. In 1996, Nehru won again from Lalgudi and became minister for Food and Cooperatives. In 2006, Nehru changed his constituency to Tiruchy II from where he won and became the Minister for Transport. Though Nehru became the DMK’s strong man in Tiruchy ever since he became the Transport Minister, he lost to AIADMK candidate Mariyam Pitchai by a margin of 7,179 votes in the recently concluded Assembly election.