Congress not to contest, not to support any party in Srirangam

Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress today announced it would neither contest nor support any party in the February 13 bypoll for the Srirangam constituency, vacated by AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case.

At a press meet here, TNCC President EVKS Elangovan described the bypoll as 'eye wash election', alleging that money was being used by various parties.

"It is a namesake bypoll. It is very clear that the ruling party is going to win," he said, a day before the last date of filing of nominations.

"People are going to get money and cast vote. Why should Congress waste its energy?" he asked.

"Congress workers can cast their vote based on their conscience," he said, replying to a query.

Scrutiny would be done on January 28 while last day for withdrawal of nominations is January 30.

AIADMK, DMK, BJP and CPI-M have already announced their candidates for the bypoll, which is keenly watched by political observers and people of the state as it comes at a time when AIADMK is lying low with Jayalalithaa waging a legal battle in Karnataka High Court against her conviction.

After announcing N Anand as his party's choice to take on the ruling party for a second time after being trounced in the 2011 polls, DMK chief M Karunanidhi had appealed for opposition parties' support for his candidate as a show of solidarity against the 'anti-democratic' AIADMK regime.