TTV throws hat in RK Nagar bypoll ring

Madurai: Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran on Friday announced that he would contest the RK Nagar Assembly by-election, where polling will be held on December 21.

The beleaguered leader, who unsuccessfully fought for the two-leaves symbol with the Election Commission, said he has decided to contest the bypoll in deference to the views of senior leaders.

All out efforts will be taken to retrieve the two-leaves symbol, Dinakaran told reporters at nearby Tirupur. He said he would meet party general secretary VK Sasikala on November 29 in jail in Bengaluru.

“It is not a coincidence that the symbol is allotted to them just 24 hours before the announcement of the date for the by-elections to RK Nagar,” he said.

Dinakaran had filed his nomination for the bypoll in RK Nagar when it was previously scheduled for April 12 this year. However, the bypoll was cancelled subsequently following allegations of bribing of voters.

The Election Commission earlier on Friday announced that the bypoll to Dr Radha Krishnan Nagar Assembly constituency, which fell vacant following the demise of Jayalalithaa last year, will be held on December 21.