Final tally: 62 in fray at RK Nagar, EVMs to be used

A total of 62 candidates, including eight women, are in the fray in the by-election to the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency, which is slated to be held on April 12.

Though 113 candidates had filed their nominations, after scrutiny, the commission rejected 57 applications, and eight candidates withdrew their nominations.

Candidates of two warring factions of AIADMK of V K Sasikala's group and rebel leader O Panneerselvam's camp filed their nomination last Thursday.

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa, who had floated her own political outfit MGR-Amma-Deepa Forum also filed her nomination papers for the RK Nagar seat in a bid to prove that she is the political heir of her aunt. DMK, BJP, DMDK and CPI(M) candidates are aslo there.

The withdrawal of eight candidates from the fray has come as a relief to authorities as one set of EVM could only cater to a maximum of 64 candidates.

"The EVMs of Bharat Electronics Limited were designed for 64 candidates. The EVMs supplied by Electronics Corporation of India Limited were designed for 383 candidates plus NOTA," reports said, quoting sources.