Retired judge E Padmanabhan has been appointed as the election commissioner for the upcoming Nadigar Sangam elections. Actor Nasser, the president of the association, announced this after an emergency executive body meeting yesterday in Chennai.
Speaking to the media later, Nasser said, “We will formally request him to take charge. We have three venues in mind and he will decide on the date and venue soon.” Nasser also confirmed that he will be contesting for president again, with Vishal Krishna as general secretary and Karthi as treasurer. Actor Udhaya, who campaigned for Vishal during the previous elections, told The Hindu that Vishal’s performance was not satisfactory so he will be contesting against Vishal for the upcoming elections.
Reports have also speculated that Radhika Sarathkumar will be running for president opposite Nasser, and she will be backed by actors Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi. Sources said actor-politicians S Ve Shekher and T Rajendar are planning to contest from the same team. Both TR and SV Sekhar told Silverscreen they are yet to decide on this. SV Sekhar said, “It’s not necessary that I must stand but I want Nadigar Sangam to be cleaned. We definitely need a change, there are allegations of funds misappropriation by Vishal’s party that needs to be proved. I’m trying to have talks to get good people to contest. I also want to clarify that Radhika Sarathkumar is not standing.”
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He added that there needs to be a transparency in the Sangam, and both Radha Ravi and Sarathkumar’s side and the present office-bearers have been corrupt. “One side’s allegations have been proven and the other has not, that’s all is the difference.” Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi are among those convicted in the Nadigar Sangam land misappropriation case. Earlier this month, the Madras High Court ordered the Kanchipuram crime branch to complete investigation on the case and submit report in three months. Their eligibility to contest cannot be confirmed while this case is pending.
The present office bearers were elected to power in October 2015 in a highly publicised event. While they were elected for a three-year term, in a general body meeting in August last year it was decided that the term will be extended, and they will not have polls till the completion of the new Nadigar Sangam building. The grand inauguration for the building was slated for March 2019, but the construction is yet to be completed.