Gandhian-activist K Sasi Perumal, who recently drew public attention by staging a fast-unto-death demanding total prohibition, has filed nomination as an independent for the Alandur Assembly constituency. Having been courted by the AAP and the BJP, Sasi Perumal has opted to remain unattached to any party for the by-poll, and is expected to choose where to lay his loyalty after the election. Sources in the AAP said that they made a strong bid to get him to join their party. “We held talks to get him into our party. We had supported him in a big way when he had gone on fast and also offered the Alandur seat to him,” an AAP functionary said. The functionary added, “The BJP was also trying to win him over. At that point, Sasi Perumal said that he would think about it. But he has chosen to contest as an independent.”