CHENNAI: In the wake of the announcement of the Election Commission that by-election to R K Nagar constituency would be held before December 31, the DMK said it was ready to face the test while DMDK chose to opt out of the polls. “We are ready to face bypolls anytime, even tomorrow,” DMK working president M K Stalin told reporters, in Chennai on Friday.
However, he wanted the authorities to book Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in connection with the alleged voter bribing episode in the constituency where a bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. DMDK founder Vijayakant tried to justify his decision of staying away, saying there were chances for a general election.
“We are not contesting the R K Nagar bypolls because there are chances for general election,” he told reporters after vising dengue-affected patients at Stanley Government Hospital. The by-election was actually scheduled for April 12. The constituency witnessed a high-voltage three-cornered contest between the then AIADMK-Amma, representing the faction led by VK Sasikala, O Panneerselvam-led AIADMK-PTA and DMK.
TTV Dhinakaran, currently waging a bitter battle with the ruling faction, was fielded in the constituency electrifying the contest. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa too entered the fray. However, the by-election was rescinded following the IT department’s raid at the residence of Health Minister C Vijayabasker.