The DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam was packed with enthusiastic party activists today, as a team led by Chief Minister and party president M Karunanidhi interviewed candidates who have applied for the party ticket to contest in the by-elections for the five Assembly constituencies.

As many as 153 have applied seeking tickets in the elections to be held for Bargur, Thondamuthur, Cumbum, Illayangudi and Srivaikundam. They appeared in person at the ‘Arivalayam’ along with their supporters.

The interview panel comprised Karunanidhi, DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan, treasurer  Stalin and principal secretary Arcot N Veerasamy. Sources have it that various questions relating to their popularity in the constituency, economic background, works done for the party and society were put to the contestants.

The DMK, which stamped its supremacy in the 13 May Lok Sabha elections by clinching 18 seats, has taken the lead by inviting applications from its party’s MLA aspirants and is likely to announce the names of candidates in one or two days.

The main opposition AIADMK has decided to boycott the elections alleging that the electoral process had been rendered farcical in the State ever since the DMK assumed power in 2006. Party general secretary J Jayalalithaa said the Electronic Voting Machines could be doctored and the polling officials were hand in glove with the ruling.

Though PMK and MDMK, both alliance partners of the AIADMK, toed the line of Jayalalithaa in boycotting the by-polls, the Communist parties, which faced the Lok Sabha elections in the AIADMK alliance, are yet to make an announcement.

Meanwhile, actor-politician Vijayakanth’s DMDK is also busy scrutinising candidates for the by-polls schdeuled on 18 August.