Chennai: Battlelines have been drawn for next month’s bypoll in RK Nagar Assembly constituency which fell vacant following Jayalalithaa’s demise in December.
The bypoll would mark two electoral debuts — one by TTV Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK chief VK Sasikala. Dinakaran was named the deputy general secretary of the party by Sasikala before being jailed in a disproportionate assets case.
The second debut would be made by Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who has accused the Sasikala’s camp of trying to appropriate the late chief minister’s legacy. In a veiled reference to Sasikala, Deepa had a few days ago alleged harassment by goons.
Also, fighting for the seat, and for Jayalalithaa’s legacy, is the O Panneerselvam camp. Talking to CNN-News18 on Wednesday, Panneerselvam had said his candidate for the bypoll, who is yet to be decided, would be fighting on the AIADMK’s symbol.
The DMK has announced N Maruthuganesh as its candidate for the April 12 bypoll. Party General Secretary K Anbazhagan made the announcement through a party release in Chennai.
The Election Commission of India has announced that the filing of nominations will begin on March 16 and would end on March 23. The last date for withdrawals is March 27. The result will be declared on April 15.
The poll body said the model code of conduct will come into force from Thursday and will be applicable for the entire Chennai district, of which RK Nagar constituency is a part.
Jayalalithaa's death had triggered a virtual split in the AIADMK, forcing the Assembly to witness a violence-marred floor test, which was eventually won by Sasikala loyalist E Palaniswamy.
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