TTV Dhinakaran ready to contest RK Nagar bypoll, urges AIADMK to accept Sasikala's leadership

Tiruchirappalli: Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran says he is ready to contest the RK Nagar bypoll, elections for which are to be held before 31 December, but it would be party general secretary VK Sasikala who would name the candidate.

“The party General Secretary VK Sasikala will select the candidate and announce the name,” he said. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Dhinakaran, who was speaking at a function in Tiruchirappalli, urged all factions of AIADMK to accept Sasikala’s leadership and work under her.

He also welcomed Lok Sabha deputy speaker and AIADMK leader M Thambidurai’s reported remarks to the factions to work for AIADMKs victory in RK Nagar. Dhinakaran was speaking after participating in a function to distribute Nilavembu kudineer (herbal drink) to fight dengue.

The K Palaniswami led government and Dhinakaran are engaged in a tussle for power, with the latter accusing the chief minister of “betraying” Sasikala who had nominated him to the top post in February following a revolt by then rebel leader Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam had since merged his faction with that of Palaniswami and is now deputy chief minister in the cabinet. Dhinakaran had met the then governor C Vidyasagar Rao and sought removal of Palaniswami as chief minister.

In August, 19 MLAs supporting him had met Rao and pressed for a similar demand, saying they had lost confidence in him. However, one of the MLAs had switched over to the chief minister’s camp later.

The Election Commission had on Thursday ordered Tamil Nadu government to conduct the by-poll before 31 December. Last month, Madras High Court had ordered the EC to hold the election at the earliest, preferably before 31 December.