Observers representing TTV Dhinakaran and the ruling AIADMK clashed at a counting centre early on Sunday, as offical trends showed the independent candidate leading in the RK Nagar bypoll, now effectively a triangular contest for Jayalalaithaa's assembly seat.

TTV Dhinkaran's supporters alleged that AIADMK men entered the Queen Mary's counting centre, threw chairs, tried to destroy Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and attacked them. They say four of them suffered head injuries.

India Today could not independently confirm the number, but our reporter did see an ambulance leaving the counting centre.

One TTV Dhinakaran supporter said he wasn't attacked only because he was wearing a mala (a necklace of beads worn by devotees travelling to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala). "They asked me to get out and tore my pass," he said.

Counting temporarily stopped, but has now resumed.

Supporters of TTV Dhinakaran were moved to the other side of the road.

A Special Action Group of the Tamil Nadu Police was deployed. Men from the Dhinakaran camp told India Today's Akshaya Nath that police were favouring the ruling party. "Jai Jai Dhinakaran," some cried.

The RK Nagar bypoll was contested by 56 candidates, including the AIADMK, the DMK and TTV Dhinakaran. The election is a prestige poll for Jayalalithaa's successors in government, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy, O Panneerselvam.

At the time when this report was filed, TTV Dhinakaran had 10421 votes, and led the AIADMK by over 5,000 votes. One jubilant supporter, who called his leader a "lion," said he would be the next chief minister.

But he needs to wait. As many as 1.76 people voted in the election, and it's still early days.

(Inputs from Priyamvatha P.)

RK Nagar bypoll: AIADMK men attacked us, tried to destroy EVMs at counting centre, says TTV Dhinakaran camp

Supporters of TTV Dhinakaran, who was leading by thousands votes in the RK Nagar bypoll (at the time), said they were attacked by AIADMK men at the Queen Mary's counting centre in Chennai.