The DravidaMunnetraKazhagam (DMK) on Sunday announced the candidates for Rajya Sabha, which include party strongman ‘Tiruchi’ Siva being re-nominated for the March 26 polls. It also named a lawyer and prominent Dalit leader as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in the state.

While Siva, whose tenure ends on April 2 was renominated for a third term, the party gave seat to N R Elango, party’s legal eagle, and ‘Anthiyur’ Selvaraj, who is a former minister and a Dalit leader in the DMK, from Western Tamil Nadu.

“I am very grateful to the party leadership for reposing faith in me as a Parliamentarian and nominating me once again to Rajya Sabha. “I will be the voice of DMK and people of Tamil Nadu and will strive to uphold the tenets of Indian Constitution, which is under strain now,” Siva told media.

As per the Election Commission’s schedule for biennial elections, the poll will be held on March 26 and counting of votes will happen on the same day.

According to the Election Commission, the notification would be issued on March 6, the last date for filing of nominations is March 13.

With the current strength, DMK and AIADMK can win three seats on their own.Presently, the AIADMK has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha and the DMK has five. Post elections, the strength of AIADMK in Rajya Sabha are expected to fall to nine (if it fields its candidates for all the seats) and the DMK’s strength will increase to seven.