Tamil Nadu Erode East Bypoll: KS Thennarasu Announced As Candidate By EPS Faction Of AIADMK

The Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announced former MLA KS Thennarasu as its candidate for the Erode East bypoll.

Thennarasu had won the Erode East constituency as an AIADMK candidate in the 2016 Assembly elections. During the 2021 elections, the seat was allotted to its alliance partner, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC).

The TMC fought the election on the AIADMK's 'two-leaves' symbol but lost to the Congress candidate Thirumahan Evera, whose death has necessitated this bypoll.

Earlier, the EPS faction was expected to field former minister and Erode Urban district secretary KV Ramalingam from the seat.

Thennarasu belongs to the Gounder community which is numerically strong in the constituency.

He is not expected to file his nomination soon as the party awaits the Supreme Court's order on the 'two-leaves' symbol.

The O Panneerselvam (OPS) faction of the AIADMK is yet to announce its candidate. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier indicated that it might support the EPS faction but there has been no official announcement yet.

The Tamil Nadu BJP held a meeting at party headquarters yesterday (31 January) but the final decision is expected to be taken by the central leadership.

The Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of Seeman, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) of Vijayakanth and the Amma Makka Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) of TTV Dhinakaran have already announced their candidates.

Meanwhile, D Jayakumar of the AIADMK urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to keep a strict vigil against 'fake voter cards.'

The BJP registered a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, asking him to take necessary action against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress regarding the video in which senior minister KN Nehru was seen talking to the Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan about distribution of money and gifts.

Also Read: ‘Will Distribute Money By 31 January; Watch And Biriyani To Polling Officials’: DMK Minister KN Nehru Seen Saying To Congress Candidate EVKS Elangovan