Election Commission announces April 12 as date for RK Nagar by-poll

The TN chief electoral office has announced that filing of nominations will commence on March 16 and conclude on March 23. Nominations will be scrutinised the next day, March 24. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 27. Polling will be on April 12 and counting of votes will be held on April 15. The entire election process will be completed on April 17. 

The model code of conduct will be in force from March 9 and will cover the entire district of Chennai. 

As a star constituency in 2016, the poll saw a total of 45 candidates including 29 independents in the fray. The major contenders were from AIADMK, DMK, BSP, BJP, RPI and Shiv Sena. It is one of the smallest constituencies in TN, where female voters outnumber their male counterparts. Back then, male voters were 1,20,210, with 1,23,014 women voters and 77 transgenders. The 2016 poll witnessed an all-time high polling of 74.4 per cent. The 2016 polls had 230 polling stations out of which 22 were considered vulnerable. 

The by-poll assumes importance this time around as the AIADMK will see a three-cornered contest within itself. This is because the jailed party general secretary V K Sasikala will put up a candidate. The name doing the rounds is that of AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran. 

Former chief minister O Panneerselvam’s group is also likely to announce its own candidate. 

The third group is MGR Amma Deepa Peravai secretary Deepa Jayakaumar.

MGR Amma Deepa Peravai secretary Deepa Jayakaumar on Thursday said she would contest the RK Nagar by-poll. She is likely to contest as an independent candidate. Interacting with the media, she said she would not join hands with the Sasikala faction even if invited. Regarding supporting the Panneerselvam faction, she said that they would have to take the first step. 

Meanwhile, the AIADMK Parliamentary Board on Thursday reconstituted, with party General Secretary VK Sasikala, replacing her predecessor late J Jayalalithaa as its head. Deputy General Secretary, TTV Dinakaran, made the announcement in a party release, issued with the ‘approval’ of Sasikala.