Chennai With the Election Commission announcing byelections to the Vikravandi and Nanguneri Assembly constituencies in the State and Kamaraj Nagar in the Union Territory of Puducherry on October 21, political parties have stepped up preparations.
The AIADMK will interview aspirants on Monday. Applications can be submitted till 3 p.m. on Monday, according to a press release.
The DMK reached an understanding with its alliance partner Congress for nominations to the three bypolls. “As per the agreement, the DMK will contest from Vikravandi and the Congress from Nanguneri. The Congress will also enter the fray in the Kamaraj Nagar Assembly constituency in neighbouring Puducherry,” DMK president M.K. Stalin told reporters.
TNCC president K.S. Alagiri, accompanied by senior Congress leaders, visited Anna Arivalayam immediately after the date was announced for a meeting, in which a decision was taken on seat-sharing.
“Aspirants for the Vikravandi seat can file their applications on September 23 and the name of the candidate will be announced the next day,” Mr. Stalin said. Mr. Alagiri said Congress candidates would be finalised after receiving applications from aspirants. The DMK also cancelled its general council meeting slated for October 6 in view of the byelections.
The Nanguneri seat fell vacant after H. Vasantha Kumar, who represented the constituency, resigned after his win from the Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency. He defeated former Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan. The vacancy in Vikravandi was caused by the death of DMK MLA K. Rathnamani. The Kamaraj Nagar seat fell vacant after sitting MLA V. Vaithilingam got elected to the Lok Sabha.
