Congress backs out of Tamil Nadu bypoll

The Congress in Tamil Nadu on Monday joined DMK and PMK in keeping itself away from contesting against Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Radhakrishnan Nagar bye-election on June 27.

Tamil Nadu Congress chief E.V.K.S. Elangovan alleged that the bypoll will not be held in a free and fair manner.

Opposition parties like DMK, PMK and MDMK have decided to stay away from the contest against the AIADMK general secretary.

However, the two left parties -- CPI and CPI-M -- has decided to propose CPI state deputy secretary C. Mahendran as their joint candidate against Jayalalithaa.

Votes will be counted on June 30.

The Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency fell vacant after AIADMK member P. Vetrival resigned to facilitate Jayalalithaa's re-election to the assembly.

Jayalalithaa, who was elected from the Srirangam constituency in May 2011, lost her seat and the chief ministers post after a trial court in Bengaluru convicted her in the disproportionate assets case.

The Karnataka High Court recently upheld her appeal and acquitted her of all charges.

Jayalalalithaa was again sworn in as chief minister, but she has to get elected to the assembly within six months.