After the announcement of 27 February as the date for the Erode East bypolls, attention has shifted to who could be the possible contestants.

According to political commentators, a family member of Thirumahan Everaa, the Congress MLA who died due to cardiac arrest has the highest chance of being nominated for the seat. This could include his father EVKS Elangovan, a senior Congress leader and former Union minister or his uncle Sanjay Sampath.

But there is a possibility of the Congress deciding to field someone from outside the family.

Also not ruled out is the possibility of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) deciding to field its own candidate instead of fielding a Congress candidate.

AIADMK In a Fix

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is in a fix. During the last elections the factions led by O Panneerselvam (OPS) and E Palaniswami (EPS) were united and they had fielded Yuvaraj M from the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) on the two-leaves symbol.

It is to be seen whether the numerically stronger EPS faction allows the TMC to contest because the OPS faction is expected to throw its hat in the ring.

While there are some who contend that the EPS faction would get the two-leaves symbol because the general council meeting expelling OPS was upheld by the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court is yet to give its order, others say that if OPS challenges it, the Court is likely to freeze the symbol till the final decision in the case.

In the case of the DMK itself contesting the seat, the EPS faction would be under pressure to put up a fight in order to preserve its claim as the primary opposition party.

BJP Appoints 14 Member Committee

While the AIADMK remains in a fix, and the DMK-Congress undecided, the BJP seems to be the only party that has hit the ground running. It has announced a 14-member committee to look after all election related activities.

While there has been intense speculation of an AIADMK-BJP alliance, it seems that the BJP has decided to go it alone, given that the party is enjoying rising popularity and the AIADMK has been unable to put its own house in order.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Erode East Bypoll To Be Held On 27 February; All Eyes On AIADMK-BJP Alliance