RK Nagar Assembly bypoll: Key highlights

Chennai: The stage is set for the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency bypoll on Thursday in which around 2.06 lakh voters are eligible.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016, who represented the seat. 

Following are some of the key highlights of the bypoll:

- With 59 candidates in the fray, the bypoll is virtually confined to AIADMK's old warhorse Madhusudhanan, DMK's greenhorn Maruthu Ganesh and sidelined AIADMK leader Dhinakaran.

- Many Opposition parties, including the Congress, the VCK and the Left have backed DMK candidate.

- Dhinakaran, who fell out of favour with Palaniswami and also lost the battle for the party's 'two leaves' symbol to the latter, is fighting as an independent.

- He has expressed confidence that he can spring a surprise against the AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan, as well as the DMK.

- The votes will be taken up for counting on December 24.

- The run-up to the bypoll saw several other twists and turns, including the rejection of actor Vishal Krishna`s nomination papers.

- The parties also traded charges of large-scale bribing of voters while flying squads seized lakhs from several people during the campaign.

- Setting off a political controversy a day ahead of the bypoll, a video purportedly showing late Jayalalithaa in a hospital was released by Dhinakaran's loyalist on Wednesday.

- Amid questions raised about the timing of the about 20-second video, election officials asked channels to stop it's telecast, saying it was a violation of the model code of conduct.

- The footage, showing a frail-looking AIADMK supremo in a nightdress and sipping what appeared to be a health drink with a straw, was released by Vetrivel, disqualified AIADMK MLA and election agent of Dhinakaran.

- A police complaint was lodged by Returning Officer of RK Nagar Assembly constituency against Vetrivel, who said he released it in view of doubts raised over the circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and death.

- AIADMK hit out at Sasikala's family, saying the video release was a 'conspiracy' and a 'demeaning' act with an eye on the bypoll.

- Suspicions have been raised over circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa's demise by several persons, including now Deputy CM O Panneerselvam and his followers.

- The state government has appointed a retired Madras High Court judge as the one-man commission of inquiry to look into the circumstances leading to her death.

(With IANS and PTI inputs)