CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK today fielded the same candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies for which polling was countermanded following allegations of large-scale cash distribution and other electoral malpractices.
Former transport minister V Senthil Balaji and M Rengasamy, whose campaigns were put on hold after the Election Commission countermanded the poll indefinitely, will pick up from where they stopped, at Arakurichi and Thanjavur respectively.
While countermanding the polling, the commission had levelled serious allegations against both AIADMK and DMK candidates over electoral malpractices. However, officials and experts pointed out that there is no technical bar against them contesting in the absence of a criminal case and conviction over the allegations raised in the commission’s report.
For the bypoll to Tirupparankundram constituency in Madurai, the AIADMK has fielded former MLA AK Bose. The election was necessitated by the death of SM Seenivel, the ruling party’s candidate who went into a coma before the results were declared and died before the oath taking.
In opposition at neighbouring Puducherry where the DMK member from Nellithope resigned the seat to pave way for Chief Minister V Narayanasamy’s entry to the territorial assembly, the AIADMK has fielded Om Sakthi Sekar.
Polling will be held exactly a month from today, and counting has been scheduled for November 22.
The choice of candidates was taken at the meeting of the party's parliamentary board, said a statement from the AIADMK headquarters today, adding that the announcement is made with the approval of party general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.