Jayalalithaa to hit campaign trail on June 22

Chennai, June 18: AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is contesting the June 27 bypoll to Radhakrishnan Nagar assembly constituency, will hit campaign trail on June 22, the party said on Thursday.

In her one day programme, she will campaign in different places and address two public rallies, a party statement here said.

Jayalalithaa has set up a 50-member election committee which includes 28 ministers, to work for AIADMK's victory. The Chief Minister is contesting the bypoll after her acquittal by Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate wealth case.

She returned as Chief Minister on May 23 following a seven-month hiatus which was forced by her conviction in the case by a Bengaluru special court. She is contesting the poll with a view of fulfilling the constitutional requirement for getting elected to the Assembly within six months.

Jayalalithaa returned as Chief Minister on May 23 following a seven-month hiatus

CPI, which is the lone recognised opposition party in the fray after the others chose to boycott the bypoll, has fielded its senior state leader C Mahendran. DMK, BJP, Congress, MDMK and PMK are boycotting the election as they alleged the ruling party would use money power to sway the outcome their way.

Bypoll to the constituency in north Chennai was necessitated due to the resignation of AIADMK's P Vetrivel as MLA on May 17, paving the way for his party chief to seek election.

PTI