Posters allegedly issued in the name of the Mayiladuthurai District Congress Committee opposing the selection of a candidate from another district surfaced across the constituency on Monday, triggering disquiet among cadre of the party and its allies in the DMK-led alliance.

The posters criticised the party leadership for nominating Jamal Mohamed Yoonus, said to be from Thanjavur district, as the party candidate for the Mayiladuthurai Assembly constituency. It expressed strong opposition to R. Sudha, Mayiladuthurai MP, alleging that she had supported the selection.

Issued in the name of “Mayiladuthurai District Congress Committee – All Wings”, the posters stated that local aspirants from the district had been overlooked in favour of a “new face from outside the district” who was unfamiliar with the constituency and had not worked for the party. The posters, pasted across parts of the constituency, created a flutter among Congress workers and leaders of allied parties.

Discontent brewing

Congress district vice-president M.M.S.A. Bazurudeen while speaking to The Hindu alleged that the selection had bypassed the usual process of inviting and scrutinising applications from aspirants. The decision had demoralised local cadre. Mr. Bazurudeen said a section of district functionaries were unhappy with the decision and warned that the cadre might not actively work for the party unless the issue was addressed. The candidate was a stranger to the local issues and the decision could affect the party’s prospects in the constituency.

Party sources said that discontent within the district unit had led to a rebel aspirant, Anbazhagan, a district committee member, filing nomination papers as an Independent.

However, Mr. Bazurudeen and other senior functionaries disassociated themselves from the posters pasted in the town.