AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran will contest the by-election to the R.K. Nagar constituency in Chennai on April 12, party presidium chairman K.A. Sengottaiyan announced here on Wednesday.
The seat was declared vacant following the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in December last.
The Hindu, in its Wednesday edition, reported about the possibility of Mr. Dinakaran entering the fray for the seat.
''Will contest under 'Two Leaves' symbol''
Talking to reporters after the announcement, Mr. Dinakaran expressed the confidence that he would win the seat with a margin of over 50,000 votes. He would file his nomination papers on March 23 and contest under the party's 'Two Leaves' symbol.
(The rebel faction of the party, led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, has approached the Election Commission seeking claim of the 'Two Leaves' symbol.)
"Our opponent is only the DMK and not any other party or individual." The party was open to receiving support from anyone, he said.
Mr. Dinakaran, who is the nephew of jailed party leader Sasikala, said R.K. Nagar was Amma's (Jayalalithaa) constituency and he would continue to implement the schemes she was implementing there.
When asked whether there is any chance of him becoming the chief minister, he said, "Certainly no!" Later, replying to another query, he said, "Our Annan Edappadi K.Palaniswami is our Chief Minister."
The decision to field Mr. Dinakaran in R.K. Nagar was made at a meeting of the party governing council held at the party head office on Avvai Shanmugam Salai here.
The Election Commission on March 9 announced the by-election.
