Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday fielded P Saroja as the party candidate for the Yercaud (ST) Assembly constituency where the by-election is scheduled for December 4. Saroja is the wife of S Perumal, who represented Yercaud constituency and died in July.
In a statement here, the AIADMK chief said a decision to this effect had been taken at the meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the party.
The DMK has selected N Maran as its candidate. The PMK and the BJP have declared that they won’t be contesting this by-election. The main opposition party the DMDK and the Congress are yet to announce their stand. Though the DMK has sought the support of all political parties, the CPI and CPM have openly rejected the request and announced their support for the AIADMK. AISMK led by actor R Sarathkumar, All India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagama and a few other outfits have also announced their support for the AIADMK.
This is the fourth by-election in Tamil Nadu after the AIADMK came to power in 2011. The AIADMK has won the three earlier by-elections in Tiruchy West, Sankarankoil and Pudukottai.