RK Nagar bypoll: OPS asks EC to deploy central paramilitary forces

Fearing the use of ‘muscle or money power’ by the VK Sasikala-camp in RK Nagar bypoll, a delegation from the O Panneerselvam camp today submitted a petition with the Election Commission demanding the deployment of central paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair elections. 

"Based on the present situation in the constituency, we have requested the EC to deploy the central paramilitary forces in the RK Nagar constituency to avoid use of muscle or money power," V Maitreyan, after the submitting the memorandum, said.

The AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP also alleged that Chief Minister E Palaniswami was flouting the norms and supporting TTV Dinakaran, the candidate pitched by Sasikala camp. 

The EC had on March 23 allotted ‘hat’ symbol for Sasikala camp and AIADMK (Amma) as their name, whereas O Panneerselvam camp got ‘electric pole’ symbol and the name ‘AIADMK (Puratchithalaivi Amma)’ for the bypoll. 

The bypoll to RK Nagar assembly constituency is scheduled on April 12. The seat fell vacant after the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death on December 5. 

A total of 62 candidates, including eight women, are in the fray in the by-election to the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency.

Jailed AIADMK supremo VK Sasikala has nominated her nephew TTV Dinakaran as the party’s candidate from here. E Madhusudanan of the OPS camp is in fray from the seat. 

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar is also contesting from the seat and has alleged that she was being harassed to prevent her from contesting the bypoll. 

While the opposition has fielded N Marudhu Ganesh from the sear, BJP has given ticket to renowned director and music composer Gangai Amaran.