File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Barely a month after being back in the top post, Tamil Nadu chief minster J Jayalalithaa is on a whirlwind election campaign. She is the candidate from Chennai's RK Nagar - a safe seat vacated by AIADMK's P Vetrivel.
The by-poll at the north Chennai constituency will be held on June 27.
"This by-poll has been thrust on you due to political vendetta. My aim is to win a massive victory... The opposition not contesting out of fear," she told the people in what was her first speech in nine months.
All mainstream opposition parties, except the Left, have boycotted the by-poll alleging misuse of power. For around two decades, the opposition has not won any by-poll in the state.
Still, the AIADMK chief has set up a 50-member election committee, which includes 28 ministers, to work for the party's victory.
Ms Jayalalithaa had been out of power for eight months - after being convicted in a corruption case.
On May 11, the Karnataka High Court acquitted her, which paved the way for her comeback as the Chief Minister. The oath ceremony was held on May 23.
Now, Ms Jayalalithaa has to get herself elected to the Assembly within six months, which is a constitutional requirement.
The campaign comes at a time the Karnataka government is gearing up to appeal in the Supreme Court against her acquittal. The government, sources say, is planning to cite miscalculations and flaws in the verdict. Sources in the party also said she may call for early polls if her position comes under threat.