Voting begins for RK Nagar bypoll as Jayalalithaa eyes return to Assembly

Polling for the crucial bypoll to Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, from where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa is seeking re-election, began today at 8 AM amid tight security.

Twenty eight candidates, including social activist "Traffic" Ramaswamy are in the fray. However, the main contest is between Jayalalithaa and CPI nominee C Mahendran.

Security personnel, including Central police forces, have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling across the 230 polling stations.

The byelection was necessitated after AIADMK's P Vetrivel vacated the seat in May, so Jayalalithaa could seek re-election.

Jayalalithaa has to fulfil a constitutional requirement of getting elected as MLA within six months of becoming CM.

 

She returned to the top post on May 23 after being acquitted in a wealth case. She had been convicted in the case in September last year by a trial court in Bangalore.