By-poll to Jayalalithaa’s constituency on April 12

The Election Commission has announced by-polls to the RK Nagar constituency in north Chennai on April 12. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.

The seat fell vacant following the death of former TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016. She had retained the seat in the 2016 Assembly election.

The by-poll is expected to be one keenly contested, given the split in the ruling AIADMK, the strident attack on the State government by the opposition DMK and the high profile of the previous legislator.

The by-poll will be the first major test for the AIADMK, which is in the throes of a major split with former Chief Minister O Paneereselvam (OPS) breaking away from the party. OPS alleges that the party is being taken over by AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and her family. He has the popular support of grassroots level workers, a dozen MLAs and a number of Parliamentarians.

Sasikala is now in a Bengaluru prison, undergoing a four-year jail term after being convicted by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case.

Jayalalithaa was the first accused in the case but the appeal against her abated following her death.

Sasikala brought in her nephew TTV Dinakaran as the deputy general secretary of the party a day before she surrendered to the Special Court to start her jail term in mid-February.

For Panneerselvam, who claims popular support among AIADMK cadres, the by-poll will be an opportunity to prove his mass support within the party.

Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who emerged on the political scene after the former’s death and launched the MGR Amma Deepa Peravai, confirmed on Thursday that she will contest from RK Nagar.

The by-poll will also be an acid test for the DMK. Whether it will capitalise on the split in the AIADMK is yet to be seen.

The last date for nomination is March 23, and counting of votes will be held on April 15.

Our Delhi Bureau reports: Also going to by-polls on April 21 is the Upper Burtuk Assembly constituency in Sikkim.

The Election Commission also announced the schedule for by-elections to two Parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir and one Parliamentary constituency in Kerala as well as Assembly constituencies in various States including one each in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Rajasthan and two each in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

In addition, the Rajouri Garden Assembly constituency in Delhi will go to polls.

Polling in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Delhi is scheduled for April 9 while counting for those seats will take place on April 13.

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