Will win by over 50,000 votes from Jayalalithaa's RK Nagar seat: AIADMK candidate TTV Dinakaran

The Radhakrishnan Nagar seat fell vacant with the death of chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu's ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Wednesday named its deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran as the candidate for the April 12 by-election for the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency.

The seat fell vacant with the death of chief minister J Jayalalithaa. 

AIADMK's deputy general secretary Dinakaran is the nephew of party general secretary VK Sasikala.

Speaking to reporters here, Dinakaran exuded confidence that he will win by a huge margin of over 50,000 votes from RK Nagar.

"I want to take forward the legacy of Amma (Jayalalithaa) and continue the work done and left behind by her," he said.

Stating that he was contesting the bypoll following a decision taken by the party's Parliamentary Board, he insisted that DMK was AIADMK's main rival and welcomed the support of other parties.

"DMK is our rival and that is the policy of (party founder the late) MG Ramachandran and Amma. I am contesting from RK Nagar to prevent a DMK win and therefore will accept the support of others, whether it be MDMK, DMDK, BJP or even Congress," he said.

To a query whether he would become the Chief Minister if elected, he said, "Edappadi K Palaniswami is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," and enjoys public goodwill and support on account of his performance.

He described as "imagination" speculation that he will take over from Palaniswami in the case of being elected to the state Assembly.

Dinakaran also refused to respond to a question on DMK approaching the Election Commission with a plea to transfer City Police Commissioner S George, alleging he was acting in favour of the ruling AIADMK.

Replying to a query on expelled leader O Panneerselvam, Dinakaran said he was carrying on a campaign against the party with a view to "mislead" people and termed him as a "great actor."

Those AIADMK MLAs and MPs siding with him were doing so in anticipation of ministerial berths if possible, he alleged.

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar, who has floated her forum MGR Amma Deepa Peravai, is also expected to join the contest.

Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, leading the breakaway AIADMK group, is also expected to field its candidate.

(With Agency inputs)