Will Jayalalithaa’s Hospital Video Impact RK Nagar By-Elections?

In a bizarre and intriguing turn of events, one year after the death of Tamil Nadu former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and one day before the polling in Radhakrishnan Nagar (RK Nagar) constituency by-elections, a video clip showing Jayalalithaa in a hospital has been released to media by former MLA P. Vetrivel, a supporter of T.T.V. Dhinakaran. This is the first ever image of the popular leader from her last days.

#BREAKING: EC Asks TV Channels To Stop Airing #Jayalalithaa In Hospital Video Released By Dhinakaran’s Camp A Day Before RK Nagar By-Poll https://t.co/LLFSmAeBKD pic.twitter.com/dmNe44tQvX

— Outlook Magazine (@Outlookindia) December 20, 2017

The 20-second long video allegedly shot by Jayalalithaa’s long-time aide VK Sasikala shows the former CM on a hospital bed sipping from a juice cup. However, information about when the video was shot has not been revealed. Jayalalithaa was admitted to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital in September 2016 and remained there for three months until she died on December 5.

There have been wild rumours about the manner of Jayalalithaa’s death for the past one year, with various political factions within AIADMK claiming inside knowledge, and allegations of wrongdoing flying thick and fast. The govt. has even set up an enquiry commission to look into her death. What effect the video clip is intended to create on the electorate is uncertain, apart from creating a sensational buzz.

RK Nagar bye-election sees a no-hold barred triangular fight between two AIADMK factions and the DMK. T.T.V Dhinakaran, who is leading a faction sidelined from AIADMK party is contesting as an independent candidate. Pitted against him are AIADMK official candidate E. Madhusudhanan and DMK candidate M. Maruthuganesh. The electoral battle is considered to be among these three candidates although a total of 59 candidates have filed nominations. The constituency represented by Jayalalithaa has been vacant since she passed away in December 2016. The polling is scheduled on December 21 and the counting on December 24.

Dhinakaran had earlier said that he was in possession of such video clips when controversy around Jayalalithaa’s medical treatment and death was at its height. Meanwhile, trolls in social media are having a field day ripping into Dhinakaran camp for the timing of the video clip release during elections.

The last by-election to RK Nagar constituency was held in June 2015 when the then AIADMK sitting MLA P. Vetrivel resigned to make way for Jayalalithaa in which she was elected with a huge margin of 1.5 lakh votes. She represented the constituency two times.

The by-election has seen numerous controversies and postponements since it was first notified by the Election Commission (EC) in April. Polling was postponed till December after alleged irregularities surfaced. In April, after allegations that AIADMK ministers were bribing voters, Income Tax officials raided the home of State’s Health Minister C Vijay Baskar and found documents supporting the allegations. Also, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and his faction are accused of trying to bribe EC officials for allegedly facilitating a Rs 50 crore deal, in order to obtain the ‘two leaf’ symbol of AIADMK party. Later EC allotted the symbol to chief minister E Palaniswami's AIADMK faction.

The nominations filed by actor Vishal and Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa were rejected by the returning officer for various reasons. However, they argued that political interference was responsible for the rejection.

In the ‘high-profile’ election, lakhs of money is reportedly being distributed among the voters. While several lakhs of rupees have been seized from the constituency during the campaigning period, DMK leaders had earlier alleged that the AIADMK party supporters were distributing Rs 6000 per voter.