RK Nagar bypoll: War for late Jayalalithaa's bastion gets intense and ugly

The war for the late Jayalalithaa's bastion is getting intense and ugly day by day. Both OPS and Sasikala camps are leaving no stones unturned in their campaigning for Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar by polls.

In this war of legacy, O Pannerselvam camp on Thursday paraded with a replica of Amma's body. Placing a 'coffin' over the bonnet of an open top jeep and supporters of O Panneerselvam sought votes for their candidate E Madhusudanan. 

They also put their faction's symbol; the electricity pole with two lamps on top of the coffin.

Such an act was never seen before in Indian politics and the stunt didn't go down well with the Sasikala faction and Amma supporters.The AIADMK (Amma) faction strongly objected to it following which the police forcefully removed the coffin replica from the campaign.

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Later the supporters of AIADMK (Amma) candidate T T V Dinakaran staged a protest in front of the office of the Returning Officer seeking action against Panneerselvam faction.

The RK Nagar was Jayalalithaa's constituency and the fight for this seat after the split of AIADMK has become the matter of prestige for both OPS and Sasikala faction.

The results of RK Nagar byelections would be considered as a public opinion in favour of Jayalalithaa's successor.

Earlier Today, The Income tax department raided Tamil Nadu health minister C Vijaya Baskar’s residence in the wake of complaints that he was involved in cash distribution to voters in RK Nagar constituency where a byelection will be held on April 12.
The RK Nagar by-election will be held on April 12 and the results will be declared on April 17.