Chennai: The ruling AIADMK is yet to announce its candidate for the R. K. Nagar by-poll and party seniors including E. Madhusudhanan, presidium chairman, former minister Gokula Indira and senior N. Balaganga are in the race to obtain the party ticket to contest the by-election.
They are among the 14 members who had filed their applications seeking party tickets on Tuesday. What raised eyebrows was the alacrity with which Mr. Madhusudhanan who is known to be a loyalist of Deputy CM O. Pannerselvam, submitted his papers ahead of the party’s crucial governing council meeting.
Originally the meeting was scheduled for November 29 but has been deferred to Nov. 30. Interestingly, with Balaganga also expressing his interest, speculation is rife as to whether Balaganga will emerge as the dark horse.
The governing council of the AIADMK, led by Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, will announce its candidate for the RK Nagar by-election Nov. 30 evening. Sources say chances are high for the party to field the party's presidium chairman and former minister E. Madhusudhanan in the north Chennai constituency once again. Indicating this, he submitted letter of intent to contest in the by-poll at the party's headquarters here on Tuesday.
It was Madhusudhanan who was the candidate of the rebel AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma group, led by Mr. Panneerselvam, when the by-election was slated to be held earlier this year. It was cancelled by the EC later following allegations of malpractices.
