The Tamil Nadu BJP on Saturday demanded “level playing field” for the by-election scheduled for February 13 at Srirangam Assembly constituency. The bypoll was necessitated by the seat falling vacant following the conviction and sentencing of AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate wealth case.
The core committee of the BJP which met at Chennai on Saturday took stock of the political situation prevailing in the State and decided to field its candidate for the bypoll. The candidate will be announced after a meeting with party’s national president Amit Shah who is visiting Chennai on Sunday, according to state BJP chief Tamilissai Soundararajan.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Dr Soundararajan said the BJP state unit would approach the Election Commission of India seeking a ‘level playing field’. “The AIADMK leadership (read Jayalalithaa) has announced a 50-member high power committee led by party’s presidium chairman Madhusoodanan and which include all ministers except CM O Paneerselvan to ensure the victory of the party candidate. The entire State machinery is being deployed at Srirangam for retaining the seat,” said Soundararajan. She said this would lead to the district administration getting paralysed in favour of the ruling AIADMK candidate.
“We had bitter experience during the local body elections held in October 2014. Three of our mayoral and municipal chairmen candidates were kidnapped and forced to withdraw. This was done with official connivance and we do not want that to happen again,” said the BJP chief.