The RK Nagar Assembly constituency fell vacant after the death of late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in December 2016.
The counting of votes for RK Nagar bypoll began at 8 am on Sunday. TTV Dhinakaran is leading by a big margin and his supporters have already started celebrating. Counting was halted twice after AIADMK supporters attacked election officers. According to reports, buoyed by the developments, Dhinakaran has announced that EPS-OPS government in the state will fall in 3 Months.
Here are the other live updates:
05:30: TTV Dhinakaran wins RK Nagar bypoll, secures 89,013 against AIADMK candidate Madhusudhanan's 89,013 votes. DMK's Maruthu Ganesh at third place with 24,651 votes.
05:00 pm: After the end of counting round 14 , TTV Dhinakaran has 68,392 votes, AIADMK's E. Madhusudhanan is at 36,217 votes and DMK's N. Marudhu Ganesh has 18,924. BJP candidate Karu Nagarajan has at 1126 votes.
03:08 pm: 8th round counting: TTV Dhinakaran leads with 48,808 total votes, AIADMK's E. Madhusudhanan on second place with 25,567 votes. DMK's N. Marudhu Ganesh is on third position with 13,015
1: 10 pm: I am an independent candidate for namesake but all Party (AIADMK) workers are with me. I also have Amma's wishes: TTV Dhinakaran in Chennai
12: 30 pm: It is time for this state government to go, says TTV Dhinakaran in Madurai
12: 10 pm: 4th round results-- TTV Dhinakaran - 20.298 votes; AIADMK's Madhusudhanan - 9,672 votes; DMK's Maruthuganesh - 5,091 votes.
12: 03 pm: Dhinakaran is right now on his way from Madurai to Chennai
10: 50 am: Latest update
10:10 am: Supporters of TTV Dhinakaran celebrate in Chennai as official trends indicate his lead
9: 40 am: TTV Dhinakaran camp has already started celebrating
8: 45 am: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapadi K Palanisamy, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam pay tributes to late AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran at his Marina Beach memorial
8: 15 am: Visuals from a counting centre in Chennai
8: 05 am: Counting of votes begins; Visuals from outside a counting centre in Chennai
The counting began by 8 am at Queen Mary's College here and the process is expected to be completed in 19 rounds.
As many as 200 officials drawn from both Central and State government services have been deputed for the exercise.
Tight security is in place with state and Central Armed Police Forces personnel providing multi-layered security.
Significance of RK Nagar bypoll
The outcome of the result is crucial for all key contenders - the ruling AIADMK, rival leader T T V Dhinakaran, and the main opposition DMK. Unfazed by some exit polls indicating an edge for rival AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, both AIADMK and DMK have expressed confidence that they would win the seat.
Legacy at stake for AIADMK
For the ruling regime helmed by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, it will be seen as an acid test of whether voters prefer them after the demise of their formidable leader late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Existence battle for Dinakaran
For Dhinakaran, who claims to represent the welfare legacy of Jayalalithaa, the bypoll success is a veritable springboard for his future political aspirations.
DMK message for change
Success for an aggressive DMK is critical as it would lend credence to its campaign line that the people were fed up with the incumbent "horse-trading" regime and wanted to bring it to the seat of power for dispensing good governance. The DMK has been bolstered with the support of some more parties, including the Left, MDMK and VCK.
A win in this bypoll could help it project itself as a much more redoubtable key opposition party.
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