CHENNAI: The meeting of AIADMK parliamentary board scheduled for Wednesday to choose the party candidate for RK Nagar by-election, has been postponed without assigning any reason. At least 19 have expressed their willingness to enter the fray, many of whom are seasoned party hands.
The delay in choosing the candidate caused speculation over difference of opinion within party about candidate. Contrary to earlier notion that AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan was the unanimous choice, now many have requested that they be fielded.
Party sources said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and all members of the parliamentary board will be in Thanjavur on Wednesday to attend the MGR centenary celebrations, which was why the meeting was put off. They could also be waiting for rebel T T V Dhinakaran filing his nomination papers or fielding a supporter, so as to chalk out their strategy accordingly, the sources added.
That AIADMK sought applications from aspirants to contest this by-election is itself unusual. Normally, the parliamentary board headed by the party general secretary would convene the meeting, choose a candidate and make the announcement. But this time, they are going by the rules.
Those who had sought party ticket include R M D Raveendra Jayan, who had unsuccessfully contested the 1996 Assembly elections from RK Nagar constituency, Thamizhmagan Hussain, a member of parliamentary board, Adhi Rajaram, a senior functionary, S Gokula Indira, a former minister and A Noorjahan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2016 Assembly elections from Chepauk-Triplicane constituency here.
DMK candidate to file papers on Friday
Chennai: The DMK candidate for RK Nagar by-election Marudu Ganesh will file his nomination papers on Friday, three days before filing of nominations closes for the December 21 poll. Top leaders of the party are expected to accompany him to the office of the Returning Officer at Tondiarpet, sources said. Ganesh was re-nominated by the DMK as soon as the poll schedule was announced. A journalist by profession, Ganesh is also an advocate, besides heading the party’s RK Nagar East unit.
NHAI Chief Vigilance Officer named General Observer
Chennai: The Election Commission has appointed Kamlesh Kumar Pant, IAS, Chief Vigilance Officer of National Highways Authority of India as the General Observer for the by-election to RK Nagar Assembly constituency on December 21. He can be contacted on his mobile number - 94450 71063.
EC appoints three Expenditure Observers
Chennai: The EC appointed three Expenditure Observers for the by-election - Kumar Pranav, IRS, Sheel Asheesh, IRAS and TK Jagoria, IDAS. Meanwhile, one more independent filed his papers on the second day of filing nominations.
AIADMK to appoint new set of spokespersons
Chennai: Apparently to put an end to too many views from various functionaries thereby creating confusion as well as embarrassment to the party on a daily basis, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam on Tuesday issued a joint statement announcing that a new team of spokespersons would be announced soon to take part in the debates on TV channels. The list of spokespersons will be announced very soon.
New helpline number with WhatsApp reach
Chennai: To prevent any untoward situation during the RK Nagar by-election, scheduled for December 21, city police have launched a helpline number with WhatsApp facility for the public to lodge complaints. A help-line number 9092390432 with WhatsApp facility has been provided. It will be monitored by G Shashank Sai, DCP.