Panneerselvam faction announces candidate for RK Nagar by-poll

The rebel AIADMK faction, led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam, today announced the name of E Madusudanan as its candidate for the April 12 RK Nagar by-poll.

"The Parliamentary Board has unanimously decided to field presidium chairman E Madusudanan for the RK Nagar by-poll," Panneerselvam told reporters here.

The entry of Madusudanan, expelled from the AIADMK along with Panneerselvam by its general secretary VK Sasikala following a revolt last month, makes the contest three-cornered now.

The ruling AIADMK has fielded its deputy general secretary T T V Dinakaran, while the DMK has nominated N Maruthuganesh for the by-election, necessitated by the death of sitting member and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.
 

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar, who has recently launched the 'MGR Amma Deepa Peravai' outfit, is also likely to join the poll fray.