Chennai: The Tamil Nadu assembly constituency that late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa represented will go for byelection on 12 April even as her party remains in a state of turmoil.
Announcing the election schedule for the Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K.Nagar) on Thursday, the state election commission said votes will be counted on 15 April. The seat fell vacant upon Jayalalithaa’s death on 5 December.
The byelection is set to heighten acrimony in the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) between factions led by general secretary V.S. Sasikala and former chief minister O. Panneerselvam. Both are expected to stake claim to the party’s ‘two leaves’ symbol.
ALSO READ: O. Panneerselvam faction on hunger strike, demands probe into Jaya’s death
On Wednesday, in a show of strength, members from the Panneerselvam faction held a hunger strike across all district headquarters, seeking a judicial probe into Jayalalithaa’s death.
The IT wing of the Panneerselvam faction said: “The hunger strike took place at 36 locations across Tamil Nadu and recorded an overall floating population of 5.8 lakhs.”
AIADMK spokesperson Vaigai Selvan from the Sasikala faction told reporters that the party would record “a great victory” from R.K. Nagar.
ALSO READ: Jayalalithaa niece Deepa Jayakumar floats new party, to contest from R.K. Nagar
Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar who recently floated a new forum also plans to contest from R.K. Nagar.
