62 to battle it out in RK Nagar by-poll

It may be recalled that 127 candidates filed nominations for the by-poll, which was whittled down to 70 candidates with 82 nominations on Saturday last. 

This was due to many candidates including from the AIADMK factions, DMK and some independents filing up to three nominations hoping that at least one nomination would be accepted if the others were rejected. After constituency Returning Officer Praveen P Nair rejected eight nominations on Monday, the final tally was 62 nominations.

MAD Peravai Secretary and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar who is also contesting here, was allotted the ‘Boat’ symbol. 

She provided the Election Commission three symbols including a ‘Bunch of Grapes,’ ‘Boat’ and ‘Pen’ and informed them that she would accept whatever symbol was allotted to her. Accordingly, she was allotted the ‘Boat’ symbol on Monday afternoon. 

With the Election Commission planning to use EVMs, it remains to be seen how it will work as each booth needs four EVMs and voters would consume time in searching for the candidate of their choice. AIADMK factions and major parties might be affected as the former now contests under different symbols.

Meanwhile, TTV Dinakaran on Monday released the party manifesto for the RK Nagar bypoll which, among others, promises setting up of a super-speciality hospital, mobile hospitals and fish markets in the constituency.