CHENNAI: Kick-starting campaign for E Madhusudhanan, AIADMK co-ordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam and party's co-ordinator and chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami accompanied the candidate in a vehicle through the streets of the constituency. Ministers SP Velumani, K Pandiarajan, and senior party functionaries were also part of the procession. EPS said, “We heard this area is quite lucky and hence we commenced the campaign here. I call upon all of you to cast your votes for the AIADMK's symbol and help our candidate win by a huge margin.”
OPS appealed to the voters to cast their votes in support of their candidate who has the blessings of their party leaders and former chief ministers MGR and Jayalalithaa. The Election Commission announced the dates of the much-awaited RK Nagar by-polls. Scheduled to be held on December 21, the seat has been vacant for over a year now after the demise of Jaya. Delays were caused by political infighting within the AIADMKL and allegations of cash-for-vote. The EC had recently informed that they had removed over 45,000 fake voters from the constituency and got a go ahead from the Madras High Court to conduct the elections before December 31.
TTV Dhinakaran of Sasikala faction has declared to contest from RK Nagar for AIADMK (Amma). “I will go to the Supreme Court and reclaim the symbol and if not possible then will contest with the hat symbol as suggested earlier. I am sure the people will vote for me,” he said. Meanwhile, opposition DMK said, “There is no government in place. The ones in power are only bothered about their interest. The people are desperate for a change and it is about time, you will see the effect of the bad governance in the upcoming by-polls.”
