Notwithstanding large-scale opposition boycott, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha on Friday filed her nomination papers for the June 27 R K Nagar bypolls.
Accompanied by her close aid Sasikala and cabinet colleagues, Jayalalitha filed her nomination papers at Tondiarpet Zonal Office before the returning officer Sourirajan.
Braving scorching heat, AIADMK supporters thronged the route of Jayalalitha’s convoy from her Poes Garden residence and cheered her all along. This is the first time Jayalalitha would be contesting an election from a constituency in Chennai city, which remained a DMK bastion for several decades. R K Nagar MLA P Vetrivel from AIADMK resigned on May 17 to allow Jayalalitha to be re-elected to the state Assembly.
With the Karnataka High Court’s acquittal from the illegal wealth case, Jayalalitha was sworn-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 23 and has to get re-elected to the Assembly within six months.
The Representation of the People Act, 1951, does not bar or enable someone to become Chief Minister or Prime Minister, but some provisions of the Constitution are interpreted by the courts to conclude that a candidate has to be elected to the Assembly or Lok Sabha to retain his/her position as Prime Minister, Chief Minister or member of the cabinet.
With various opposition parties like the DMK, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) boycotting the bypoll, Jayalalitha’s election from R K Nagar would be a mere formality. (Foreign News)
