Deepa takes a dig at husband

She said, “it is an emotional blackmail to talk about personal issues in public.” 

Stating that she had not expected such a move from her husband, Deepa said, “There are other ways to show support.” 

“I am very upset after watching the media interview and I feel that bringing family issues into the public domain is not acceptable,” Deepa added.  “I have always stated that the Sasikala group was against my entry into politics and to ensure this they are now trying to drive a wedge between me and my husband,” she averred. “I have always been close to my friends from childhood and they are now trying to create problems there also,” she added. 

The issue reportedly started after visit of Madhavan to Jayalalithaa’s memorial on the Marina a few days ago and his subsequent announcement that he would start a new political party (Deepa’s was only a peravai, he said) to the media.  “The party will be formally launched soon,” Madhavan said. Revealing that she was recovering from a viral fever, Deepa said that she would start campaigning from Friday. Asked about the symbol allotted to her, Deepa said, “I have given the election commission three choices and I am perfectly willing to take whatever symbol that they allot me.”  A total of 78 candidates have filed their papers for the April 12 by election for the RK Nagar constituency, said the Chief Electoral Office on the last day for filing of nominations. Of the 78 candidates, 71 nominations were submitted by men and rest by women. A total of 40 independents have filed their papers. OPS faction’s candidate E Madhusudhanan filed two nominations, while RS Raajesh has filed his nomination for the same party AIADMK (PTA) as a dummy candidate. 

While Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate Kalaikottuthayam and independent aspirant Agni Sriramachandran filed two nominations each, DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh filed three nominations. TTV Dinakaran AIADMK(A) filed one nomination. The exact number of candidates will be known when the scrutiny ends on March 24 and withdrawal slated for March 27. 

Three officials have been appointed as observers for the RK Nagar by-election. Praveen Prakash has been appointed as the general observer. Aparna Villuri will be in-charge of the poll expenditure of the candidates. Shiv Kumar Verma is the observer for law and order during the by-elections. The general observer and law and order observer took charge on Thursday, while the expenditure observer will take up duty on March 27. They can be reached on 94450 36578 (general observer), 9445036584 (expenditure observer) and 9445036579 (law and order observer) for poll related complaints.

Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday said he would not support any one in the April 12 by-election to the R K Nagar Assembly seat.“My support is for no one in the coming election,” Rajinikanth tweeted. Rajinikanth’s statement comes days after music composer and BJP candidate for the by-poll, Gangai Amaran, called on him.