The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its nominees for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, naming senior party leader Tiruchi Siva and J Constantine Ravindran as its official candidates. The announcement was made on March 4, a day before the deadline for filing nominations, as the party finalises its preparations for the biennial polls.
Tiruchi Siva, a four-time Member of Parliament in the Upper House, brings nearly three decades of parliamentary experience, including service on several legislative committees such as the Committee on Water Resources. J Constantine Ravindran, a DMK spokesperson and party functionary, and holds multiple academic degrees, including a doctorate.
The announcement comes as part of the party’s strategy to fill four of the six Rajya Sabha seats that will fall vacant from Tamil Nadu on April 2, based on the current strength of the DMK-led alliance in the state Assembly. The remaining two seats in the Upper House from the state will be contested by the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and its allies.
As part of its alliance arrangements, the DMK has also allocated one Rajya Sabha seat each to its two partners in the ruling coalition. The Indian National Congress has been formally allotted one seat under the seat-sharing agreement finalised during talks for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in which it agreed to contest 28 constituencies as part of the larger coalition. The DMDK has likewise been promised one Upper House seat, with party officials indicating that its nominee is expected to be announced shortly.
The Election Commission of India has set the schedule for the biennial elections to fill 37 Rajya Sabha vacancies nationwide across 10 states, with nominations beginning on February 26, scrutiny on March 6 and the withdrawal deadline on March 9. Polling, where necessary, is slated for March 16 with ballots counted later that day.
Following his nomination, Tiruchi Siva addressed reporters in Chennai, saying he would continue to represent and raise the voice of his party in Parliament. He has criticised opposition strategies and reiterated his commitment to the principles.
– Magizh
