Jaya names S Valarmathi as Srirangam candidate

Tiruchirappalli joint district secretary S Valarmathi was today declared as the candidate for Srirangam constituency previously held by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, who was disqualified following conviction in a graft case, for the February 13 by-elections.

Jayalalithaa in a statement here announced the candidature of Valarmathi.

The prestigious constituency, home to famous Lord Sri Ranganthar temple is set for a multi-cornered contest with DMK re-nominating N Anand, who was defeated by Jayalalithaa in 2011, and BJP making it clear that it will also contest the by-election.

The bypoll necessitated following Jayalalithaa's conviction in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case and her subsequent disqualification will be seen as a report card for the four-year-old AIADMK government and an exercise of self-assessment for DMK and BJP ahead of Assembly elections scheduled early next year.