RK Nagar bypoll: EC first rejects, then accepts nomination of actor Vishal

The RK Nagar seat fell vacant following the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.

Pic courtesy: ANI

Chennai: Hours after being rejected by the Election Commission, the nomination papers of actor Vishal Krishna for the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll as an independent candidate, was accepted on Tuesday.

"My nomination has been accepted. I thank the EC. The Returning Officer has done what has to be done," he told the media.

Earlier, the nomination papers of Krishna and late J Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar were rejected by the election authorities.

"Both their nominations have been rejected. We will get full details later... It is a quasi judicial process," an official had said.

Asked about the reason for rejecting the papers, the official had said that it was 'technical'.

"...There were some flaws in the nomination..It is an order passed by the Returning Officer," he had added, PTI had reported.

On the other hand, Vishal had said that he was told at the last minute that there were 'discrepancies', in the papers in respect of signatures.

Along with several of his supporters, he had briefly squatted on the road in North Chennai protesting the decision to reject his papers. Later, he was removed from the spot by police.

Vishal heads the Tamil Film Producers Council and is the general secretary of the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes' Association).

Meanwhile, opposing election authorities' rejecting her nomination, Deepa alleged it was not done for any valid reasons. "It is being done wantonly," she added.

As many as 145 nominations were received from aspirants seeking to contest the bypoll. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 7, 2018.

Candidates of AIADMK, DMK and BJP, besides sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran are in the fray. 

The RK Nagar seat fell vacant following the death of its MLA and then CM Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.

(With Agency inputs)