The Congress on Monday joined other opposition parties, including the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam and Pattali Makkal Katchi, in boycotting the June 27 by-election to Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency in Chennai, from where All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is seeking re-election to the Tamil Nadu assembly.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President EVKS Elangovan alleged that the bypoll may not be held in a fair manner. In a statement, he claimed officials had failed to prevent an "unusual" situation from prevailing in the constituency, bypoll to which was necessitated following the resignation of the AIADMK's P Vetrivel on May 17 to make way for his leader to fight election from a city constituency for the first time.
Elangovan also alleged that money was being distributed in the constituency.
The DMK, the PMK and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam besides others had announced boycotting the bypoll raising apprehensions over the fair conduct of the election besides alleging money distribution.
They had also held that the need to contest the election did not arise as elections to the 234-member state assembly are due next year. DMK chief M Karunandhi had sarcastically said: "we clearly know how democracy will be respected in the bypoll," and asked "if we do not know how it was a carnival of money" in the Srirangam bypolls held in January this year.
Jayalalithaa returned as the chief minister on May 23 following her acquittal by the Karnataka high court in the disproportionate assets case. She has to be elected as member of Legislative Assembly within six months of taking office.
Earlier, she was disqualified as chief minister, besides as MLA of Srirangam, following her conviction in the case by a Bengaluru trial court.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was still holding talks with its allies including Vijayakanth-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam and that a final decision would be taken later but hinted that the party could also boycott the bypoll.
"However, as far as the BJP is considered, we are hesitant to contest as we don't think it is necessary," party's state unit President Tamizhisai Sounderrajan told reporters here.
All the parties were 'hesitant' to contest the bypoll as there was ‘no level playing field’, she said. While the DMK, the MDMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the PMK have announced boycotting the boypoll, the Communist Party of India with the support of the CPI-Marxist has decided to contest.
The last date for filing nominations is June 10.
