With DMK deciding to contest directly in Coimbatore in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, anticipation grows over the party's candidate choice. Reports suggest, Dr. Gokul Shankar and Dr. R. Mahendran, both holding significant positions in the party as the potential candidates.
Coimbatore: As the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) prepares to directly contest in Coimbatore in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, speculation mounts over as to who will be the party's candidate.Â
Amid heightened expectations, two prominent figures within the party, Dr. Gokul Shanker, the Deputy Secretary of DMK's Medical Wing, and Dr. R. Mahendran, the Joint Secretary of the party's Information Technology Wing, have emerged as the main contenders.
Dr. Gokul Kruba Shanker has a commendable track record within the DMK, starting his political career as a representative at the circle level and later taking on substantial roles such as the Election Officer for the Thondamuthur constituency in the past legislative assembly elections. His contribution to the party and community extends beyond politics, as he has organized numerous medical camps and relief activities during natural calamities especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
Holding a significant position within the DMK's medical wing since 2006, Dr. Gokul has been pivotal in election strategies for both state and central elections. With a tenure as the Deputy Secretary of the State Medical Wing since 2013 and ascending to the Joint Secretary in 2023, his dedication to public service and party activities has been evident.
In charge of key constituencies like Avinashi in the 2019 and 2024 elections and Thondamuthur in 2021, Dr. Shanker's nomination reflects the trust and reliance placed on him by the party and its leadership. Born into a family deeply rooted in DMK values, Dr. Shanker's political journey is a testament to his commitment to serving the community and upholding the party's principles. Dr. Gokul also iswell known for his medical expertise and leadership in surgical gastroenterology.
Similarly, Dr. R. Mahendran is a Cardiologist, businessman, and politician from Pollachi.
He brings a combination of medical, business, and political experience. Initially, he served as the Vice-President of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and contested in Coimbatore constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and subsequently in 2021 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Singanallur constituency.
Though, Dr. Mahendran lost in both theelections, he had given a good run to the opposition as a debutant and his campaign was widely received by the public and closely by the political parties including the DMK.Â
Immediately after the elections, he joined the DMK following irreconcilable differences with Kamal Haasan. He joined DMK under the leadership of DMK President M.K. Stalin and was appointed as the Joint Secretary of the DMK's IT wing.
Dr. Mahendran, is certainly one of the popular names in the Coimbatore region and believed to strengthen DMK's base in the western region where the party performed poorly in the last assembly polls.
With, Dr. Gokul Shanker and Dr. Mahendran, shortlisted as the potential candidates to contest on behalf of the DMK in the upcoming lok sabha polls,considerable interest has sparked among party members and constituents, who are eagerly awaiting for an official announcement, say sources.Â
As both candidates hold significant positions within the party and possess resourceful backgrounds, the decision is anticipated to be a closely watched one.
Amid heightened expectations, two prominent figures within the party, Dr. Gokul Shanker, the Deputy Secretary of DMK's Medical Wing, and Dr. R. Mahendran, the Joint Secretary of the party's Information Technology Wing, have emerged as the main contenders.
Dr. Gokul Kruba Shanker has a commendable track record within the DMK, starting his political career as a representative at the circle level and later taking on substantial roles such as the Election Officer for the Thondamuthur constituency in the past legislative assembly elections. His contribution to the party and community extends beyond politics, as he has organized numerous medical camps and relief activities during natural calamities especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
Holding a significant position within the DMK's medical wing since 2006, Dr. Gokul has been pivotal in election strategies for both state and central elections. With a tenure as the Deputy Secretary of the State Medical Wing since 2013 and ascending to the Joint Secretary in 2023, his dedication to public service and party activities has been evident.
In charge of key constituencies like Avinashi in the 2019 and 2024 elections and Thondamuthur in 2021, Dr. Shanker's nomination reflects the trust and reliance placed on him by the party and its leadership. Born into a family deeply rooted in DMK values, Dr. Shanker's political journey is a testament to his commitment to serving the community and upholding the party's principles. Dr. Gokul also iswell known for his medical expertise and leadership in surgical gastroenterology.
Similarly, Dr. R. Mahendran is a Cardiologist, businessman, and politician from Pollachi.
He brings a combination of medical, business, and political experience. Initially, he served as the Vice-President of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and contested in Coimbatore constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and subsequently in 2021 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Singanallur constituency.
Though, Dr. Mahendran lost in both theelections, he had given a good run to the opposition as a debutant and his campaign was widely received by the public and closely by the political parties including the DMK.Â
Immediately after the elections, he joined the DMK following irreconcilable differences with Kamal Haasan. He joined DMK under the leadership of DMK President M.K. Stalin and was appointed as the Joint Secretary of the DMK's IT wing.
Dr. Mahendran, is certainly one of the popular names in the Coimbatore region and believed to strengthen DMK's base in the western region where the party performed poorly in the last assembly polls.
With, Dr. Gokul Shanker and Dr. Mahendran, shortlisted as the potential candidates to contest on behalf of the DMK in the upcoming lok sabha polls,considerable interest has sparked among party members and constituents, who are eagerly awaiting for an official announcement, say sources.Â
As both candidates hold significant positions within the party and possess resourceful backgrounds, the decision is anticipated to be a closely watched one.