RK Nagar bypolls: Vijayashanthi lashes out at O Panneerselvam

The RK Nagar bypolls is turning out to be a battle field for both the fractions of AIADMK. In a new turn of events, actor-turned-politicians Vijayashanthi made a surprise appearance in RK Nagar on Friday evening, alongside AIADMK (Amma) candidate TTV Dhinakaran and lashed out against former chief minister O Panneerselvam.

The action heroine and former TRS MP, was in the BJP for several years and joined Congress in 2014. However, over the last few months, she has been vocal in her support for AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala.

“Only one man, Panneerselvam keeps lying. For political selfishness, he is telling lies. You are all aware of what he did yesterday,” she said. She was referring to a campaign by some supporters of the O Panneerselvam faction, who went around certain areas of the constituency with a plastic fibre replica of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s ‘body’, placed in a coffin.

A spokesperson for Panneerselvam faction had clarified that the coffin campaign did not have their support and that former minister K Pandiarajan had advised the group to stop the rally.

In February this year, Vijayashanthi had backed Sasikala, during the tussle between the latter and Panneerselvam.