RK Nagar Bypoll: Voting ends for Chennai's RK Nagar seat, previously held by Jayalalithaa
The
by-election for Chennai's RK Nagar assembly seat, which fell vacant after the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last December, was held today. The AIADMK says it is confident of a win, which will help establish that Chief Minister E Palaniswami and his team are in control. The AIADMK have fielded senior leader E Madhusudanan, who has held the seat before. He contested against TTV Dhinakaran and DMK's Marudhu Ganesh. DMK working president MK Stalin too, said that he was certain that his party would emerge victorious in the RK Nagar bypoll. The campaigning for the RK Nagar bypoll ended on Tuesday amid allegations of bribery and circulation of unverified videos of notes distribution. The Election Commission had refused to postpone the RK Nagar by-election any further despite pleas from the opposition DMK, saying there was no proof. The counting of votes will be held on December 24.
Here are the highlights of the RK Nagar by-election in Chennai:
RK Nagar By-Election - 73.45% Overall Voting As Polling Ends, Say Election Authorities
Voting has ended in the RK Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai, with an estimated 73.4 per cent of the electorate casting their votes till polling closed at 5 PM this evening. Election authorities said 73.45 per cent of the 2,28,234 voters in the constituency exercised their franchise till the end of polls at 5 PM and there were no reports of any untoward incident. Chennai's RK Nagar constituency fell vacant after the death of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, and has been vacant for more than a year.
RK Nagar By-Election: Polling Ends For Chennai's RK Nagar Constituency, Previously Held By Jayalalithaa
Voting for Chennai's RK Nagar constituency, a seat held by Jayalalithaa till her death last year, has come to an end. Polling for the RK Nagar bypolls ended at 5 PM today. The RK Nagar by-election is seen as an acid test for the ruling AIADMK, as it is the first election since the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Though as many as 59 candidates are contesting, the RK Nagar bypoll is mainly seen as a fight between the ruling AIADMK, its rival faction led by TTV Dhinakaran and main opposition party DMK. The counting of votes for the RK Nagar by-election will take place on December 24.
RK Nagar By-Election - MK Stalin Confident Of A Win For DMK In Jayalalithaa's Former ConstituencyMK Stalin, the working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK said this morning that he has no doubt that the DMK will win the RK Nagar bypoll. Mr Stalin has been mounting pressure on the ruling AIADMK and its leaders EPS and OPS. Mr Stalin campaigned hard for DMK candidate N Marudhu Ganesh. The AIADMK also has an internal battle with the party splitting - one camp, recognised by the Election Commission as the actual AIADMK is led by party leaders E Palaniswami (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS), while the other being VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran.
(RK Nagar Bypolls: DMK working president MK Stalin says he is certain that his party would emerge victorious in the RK Nagar by-elections being held in Chennai today. The constituency was represented by former AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa till her death last year) RK Nagar By-Election - 57.16% Voting Till 3 PM, Say Election Authorities
Voting carried on at a faster-then-usual pace in the RK Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai, with an estimated 57 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 3 PM in the prestigious by-election. Election authorities said 57.16 per cent of the 2,28,234 voters in the constituency exercised their franchise by 3 PM and there were no reports of any untoward incident so far. Chennai's RK Nagar constituency fell vacant after the death of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, and has been vacant for more than a year.
RK Nagar By-Election - VK Sasikala And TTV Dhinakaran Lost AIADMK 'Two Leaves' Symbol Case Against EPS And OPSJailed leader VK Sasikala and nephew TTV Dhinakaran's camp lost the 'two-leaves' symbol case against AIADMK and its leaders Palaniswami and Panneerselvam. The case was heard by the Election Commission, which last month came to the conclusion that the EPS (E Palaniswami) and OPS (O Panneerselvam) group commanded majority in the party's organisational and legislature wings.
(RK Nagar By-Elections: VK Sasikala And TTV Dhinakaran Lost AIADMK 'Two Leaves' Symbol Case Against EPS And OPS) RK Nagar By-Election: Chennai's RK Nagar Bypolls An Acid Test For EPS And OPSThe RK Nagar bypoll is being seen as an acid test for the AIADMK, as it is the first election since the death of Ms Jayalalithaa and after it got the 'Two Leaves' election symbol back following the merger of the factions led by Chief Minister E Palaniswami and his present deputy and former chief minister O Panneerselvem.
(RK Nagar By-Election: AIADMK leader and Chief Minister E Palaniswami seen campaigning for party candidate Madhusudanan ahead of the RK Nagar bypolls)
(RK Nagar By-Elections: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami (R) and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (L) had won AIADMK's 'two-leaves' symbol to contest the RK Nagar bypoll)
RK Nagar By-Election - RK Nagar Seat Was Previously Held By J Jayalalithaa
Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, better known as RK Nagar in Chennai was represented twice by former chief minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa. It has an electorate strength of 2,28,234 -- comprising 1,10,903 men, 1,17,232 women and 99 transgenders. The key contenders in the poll are ruling AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan, main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate N Maruthu Ganesh and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, contesting as an Independent candidate.
RK Nagar By-Election - 41.6% Voting Till 1 PM, Say Election AuthoritiesPolling progressed at a brisk pace in the RK Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai, with an estimated 41 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 1 PM in the prestigious by-election. Election authorities said 41.6 per cent of the 2,28,234 voters in the constituency exercised their franchise by 1 PM and there were no reports of any untoward incident so far. A few issues related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were immediately sorted out and polling was "brisk", they said.
(RK Nagar By-Election: A few issues related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were immediately sorted out and polling was "brisk", said officials) RK Nagar By-Election - AIADMK Candidate Madhusudhanan Talks Of "Amma" After He Casts Vote
AIADMK candidate E Madhusudhanan, who cast his vote in the morning today, told reporters that "God and Amma's grace is with us". He said that he is confident of a win.
RK Nagar By-Election - TTV Dhinakaran Reacts To BJP's Bribe Allegation
RK Nagar By-Election: TTV Dhinakaran, contesting as an independent candidate, refutes BJP's allegation of bribing voters; tells news agency ANI: "people trust me, they are with me."
RK Nagar By-Election - Important Facts And FiguresThe RK Nagar by-election is seen as an acid test for the ruling AIADMK, as it is the first election since the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Though as many as 59 candidates are contesting, the RK Nagar bypoll is mainly seen as a fight between the ruling AIADMK, its rival faction led by TTV Dhinakaran and main opposition party DMK.
Here are some important facts about the RK Nagar By-election being held today:
- RK Nagar has an electorate of 2,28,234, comprising 1,10,903 men, 1,17,232 women and 99 transgenders.
- Elaborate security arrangements are in place with about 2,000 State police personnel, 15 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, including CRPF deployed across 256 polling stations.
- The polling process is being monitored by nine observers, considered the highest for a single assembly constituency.
- This includes general, special, police and expenditure officials. Ninety six flying squad teams, 21 Static Surveillance Teams and 20 Video Surveillance Teams have been deployed by election authorities.
- A total of 45 check points in and around the constituency are also manned by election officials. The run up to the RK Nagar bypoll saw political parties and candidates holding as many as 152 public meetings, rallies, roadshows and taking out 605 processions. Campaigning ended on December 19.
- Till yesterday and starting from November 24, a total of Rs 30,79,382 unaccounted cash was seized and 124 police cases (FIRs) were registered for election violations and offences.
- Fifteen people were remanded to judicial custody, 122 taken into preventive custody and 83 vehicles seized for various violations.
- Counting of votes will be taken up on December 24 and the results are expected to be out by afternoon that day.
RK Nagar By-Election - Delhi High Court Declined A Plea To Delay The RK Nagar Bypoll Yesterday
The Delhi High Court yesterday declined to pass any order directing the Election Commission to put on hold the by-election in RK Nagar. Justice Indermeet Kaur also declined to pass any order directing a CBI investigation into complaints and allegations of widespread corrupt practices in connection with the RK Nagar bypoll.
RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - DMK Candidate Marudhu Ganesh Seen As A Dark Horse In Key ContestThe DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh, seen as a dark horse, is a grassroots level party functionary. DMK also has the support of its allies Congress, IUML, MMK and an array of friendly parties, including the Left, MDMK and VCK.
(RK Nagar By-Election: DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh was one of the first few to cast his vote for the RK Nagar bypoll) RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - Sidelined AIADMK Leader TTV Dhinakaran Contesting As An Independent CandidateWhile veteran AIADMK leader and former MLA E Madhusudanan is the AIADMK nominee, TTV Dhinakaran is contesting as an independent for the first time. The Dhinakaran camp is facing flak for the release of a video clip yesterday, purportedly featuring late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a hospital bed. P Vetrivel, a Dhinakaran loyalist released the video, an act denounced by AIADMK, DMK and others.
(RK Nagar By-Election: Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran seen campaigning ahead of the prestigious RK Nagar bypoll) RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - High-Stakes Battle For Seat Previously Held By JayalalithaaThe RK Nagar by-election is seen as an acid test for the ruling AIADMK, as it is the first election since the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Though as many as 59 candidates are contesting, the RK Nagar bypoll is mainly seen as a fight between the ruling AIADMK, its rival faction led by Dhinakaran and DMK.
(RK Nagar By-Election: Voting is under way for Chennai's RK Nagar constituency, which was held previously by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa) Voting for the high stakes by-election in RK Nagar Assembly constituency, which fell vacant after the death of late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, is being carried out amid tight security in Chennai today. Key contenders for the RK Nagar bypoll are ruling AIADMK, the main opposition DMK and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran. Polling began for the RK Nagar by-election at 8 am, with people arriving to exercise their franchise across booths in north Chennai, braving the misty conditions. DMK candidate N Marudhu Ganesh was among the early voters. While the BJP has fielded a candidate too, the Left parties and the MDMK are supporting the DMK, which wants to win RK Nagar to deliver a big psychological blow to the AIADMK and support its claim that the ruling party has lost popular support after the death of Ms Jayalalithaa only months after she led her party to a big win in the assembly elections last year.
(RK Nagar By-Election: Poll officials worked round the clock to ensure that voting for Chennai's RK Nagar assembly constituency goes smoothly. Security has also be heightened keeping in mind the significance of the seat, which was previously held by Jayalalithaa) Voters queued up from more than an hour before the start of the by-election to cast their vote in the RK Nagar by-election in Chennai. The by-election for Chennai's RK Nagar assembly seat fell vacant after the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last December.
(RK Nagar by-election - Voters stood in line well before polling began this morning for Chennai's RK Nagar consituency - a seat previously held by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa)RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - DMK Candidate Marudhu Ganesh Casts VoteAfter Casting his vote, DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh said, "whether it is Rs 6000 or Rs 60,000, we are going to win; voters of RK Nagar will teach a lesson to AIADMK this time."
(RK Nagar by-election - DMK Candidate Marudhu Ganesh casts his vote) RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - Voting Under Way, DMK Candidate Marudhu Ganesh First Few To VoteVoting for the RK Nagar by-election began sharp at 8 am this morning. DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh was one of the first people to reach polling booth no. 134 in Chennai to cast his vote.
(RK Nagar by-election - DMK Candidate Marudhu Ganesh was one of the first to cast his vote) RK Nagar By-Election LIVE - Besides AIADMK, DMK And Dhinakaran, Who Else Is Contesting
While the BJP has fielded a candidate too, the Left parties and the MDMK are supporting the DMK, which wants to win RK Nagar to deliver a big psychological blow to the AIADMK and support its claim that the ruling party has lost popular support after the death of Ms Jayalalithaa only months after she led her party to a big win in the assembly elections last year.
The AIADMK has repeatedly raised questions about Ms Jayalalithaa's hospital stay and death, implying that Sasikala and her family hid the true picture for political reasons and were responsible for the situation leading to her death. Mr Dhinakaran had said that he did have video proof of Ms Jayalalithaa alive and recovering in hospital, but did not want to show it to the world as the former Chief Minister would not have liked to be seen in that state.
On Wednesday, a
20-second video, reportedly filmed by Ms Jayalalithaa's long-time friend VK Sasikala, added a new twist to the bitterly-fought by-polls. Ms Jayalalithaa is seen sitting up on a bed and sipping a drink in what is believed to be the first-ever video of her in hospital before she died a year ago. The Election Commission ordered TV channels to take the video off air, calling it a violation of the poll code. The video was released by V Vetrivel, a legislator of the AIADMK who is now in the Mr Dhinakaran camp.
Earlier this month, Mr Dhinakaran had lost the AIADMK's legacy two-leaves election symbol to the faction led by the chief minister and his deputy after the Election Commission recognised them as the "real" party. The sidelined AIADMK leader is now contesting with a pressure cooker as his election symbol.
(TTV Dhinakaran is contesting the RK Nagar by-election being held today) The AIADMK is up against TTV Dhinakaran, and the DMK's Marudhu Ganesh, a little-known lawyer but an RK Nagar local who is seen by many as the frontrunner for the seat in today's by-election. Mr Dhinakaran was evicted along with his aunt VK Sasikala as a result of the AIADMK's two factions led by Mr Palaniswami and former CM O Panneerselvam merging in August this year. Mr Dhinakaran and Sasikala have challenged that decision and claim to lead the real AIADMK, though their support in the party is dwindling.
The campaigning ended on Tuesday amid allegations of bribery and circulation of unverified videos of notes distribution. The Election Commission has refused to postpone the by-election further despite pleas from the opposition DMK. But the Election Commission said there was no proof. The RK Nagar by-election had been postponed in April this year over allegations that the faction of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala paid Rs. 89 crore to voters to buy support for its candidate and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran.
(RK Nagar by-election had been postponed in April this year over allegations that the faction of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala paid Rs. 89 crore to voters to buy support for its candidate and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran) The by-election for Chennai's RK Nagar assembly seat, which fell vacant after the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last December, is being held today. It is vital for the AIADMK, seemingly rudderless since Ms Jayalalithaa died, to establish that Chief Minister E Palaniswami and his team are in control. The party has fielded a senior leader, E Madhusudanan, who has held the seat before and has influence among Telugu people who have a sizeable presence in RK Nagar.