RK Nagar election result LIVE UPDATES: TTV Dinakaran claims victory, says ‘we are the true AIADMK’

RK Nagar election result LIVE UPDATES: In high stakes battles, AIADMK, sidelined party leader TTV Dinakaran and DMK vie for Jayalalithaa’s seat.

Counting is currently underway for the RK Nagar assembly seat, which fell vacant following the demise of former AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha. The bypoll contest in Radhakrishnan Nagar is widely being perceived as an acid test for the AIADMK as this is the first election party is contesting in after the death of Jayalalithaa. A total of 59 candidates are vying for the bypoll assembly seat, including the BJP. But, primarily, the election is being seen as a direct contest between the AIADMK, DMK and TTV Dinakaran, who is fighting as an independent.

ALSO READ | RK Nagar election result LIVE UPDATES in Tamil

RK Nagar election result LIVE UPDATES:

11.40 am: Buoyed by the early trends giving him a clear lead, Dinakaran told reporters: “We are the true AIADMK… people of RK Nagar have elected Amma’s successor.”

He said that people wanted a change of regime and ensured him they would vote for him in RK Nagar. “During my recent visits to various parts of Tamil Nadu such as Avinashi (Tirupur) and Arumanai (Kanyakumari), people said the pressure cooker (his poll symbol at RK Nagar) will win. They want a change of this regime,”

On the Election Commission’s decision to hand over the two leaves party symbol to the AIADMK, Dinakaran said: “We are the true AIADMK. A candidate determines the symbol. I have already said the ‘Two Leaves’ will be a success symbol only if it was with Puratchi Thalaivar (MGR) and Amma (Jayalalithaa). Will the people vote if it is handed over to MN Nambiar and PS Veerappa?”

11.30 am:Countingg is also underway for seats in Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal and West Bengal. Click here to READ MORE.

11.00 am: Dinakaran is still in the lead after round two of voting. The mood outside his residence is quite upbeat. Supporters have begun distributing sweets. Here are the numbers: TTV Dinakaran — 15868 votes, AIADMK — 7033, and DMK — 3750.

10.10 am: TTV Dinakaran has established a firm lead of over 5000 votes over his rivals. AIADMK is lagging in second with 4520 votes and DMK is in third with 2323. The BJP, it appears is nowhere where in the contest.

10.00 am: It is still early days, but Dinakaran supporters have already kickstarted the celebrations. Only two rounds have been completed in this 18 round contest.

Dinakaran supporters celebrate outside his residence. (Source: ANI)

9.50 am:  After the brief interruption, the Election Commission said that counting has resumed. Meanwhile, additional police force is being deployed in light of the violence inside the counting station.

“Police restored peace. Nothing alarming. Compilation of second round going on,” an EC official said.

9.40 am: Counting has been stopped after ruckus inside the counting station in Chennai’s Queen Mary’s College. AIADMK members allegedly slapped TTV Dinakaran’s supporters. Police accused of remaining mute spectators. Dinakaran was leading the contest with 7276 votes.

As TTV was leading with 7276 votes, counting stopped, TTV men slapped by AIADMK people inside the counting station, police being blamed for being mute spectators for sometime, force being deployed now

9.30 am: Exit polls had earlier called this election in favour of TTV Dinakaran. Unfazed by the predictions, both AIADMK and DMK, however, have
expressed confidence that they would win the seat.

9.20 am:  As many as 200 officials drawn from both Central and State government services have been deputed for the exercise. Tight security is in place with state and Central Armed Police Forces personnel providing multi-layered security, reports PTI.

9.10 am: In the subsequent rounds of counting, it appears the AIADMK has managed to slash Dinakaran’s early lead to a slender margin of over 600 votes.

Here are the numbers: TTV Dinakaran — 5399 votes, AIADMK — 2737 votes, DMK — 181 votes.

9.00 am: After round one, TTV Dinakaran is in the lead with 1891 votes, AIADMK is trailing in second with 646 votes and DMK is third with 360 votes.

8:45 am: TTV Dinakaran supporters already started celebrations at his residence near Besant Nagar beach.

8:30 am: In the first round,  TTV Dinakaran leading by 412 votes.

07:31 am: “Apart from BJP other parties that contested used corrupt practices and distributed money in a big way,” says Karu Nagarajan, BJP candidate from RK Nagar outside a vote counting center in Chennai.

Karu Nagarajan, BJP candidate from RK Nagar.