PMK not to contest Chennai's RK Nagar assembly bypoll

COIMBATORE: PMK today alleged that money power plays a 'larger role' in bypolls and decided not to contest the byelection to the R K Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai, becoming the fourth party in the state to do so.

DMK, Tamil Maanila Congress and Viduthalai Chiruthaaigal Katchi had already announced that they will not contest.

"Money power plays a larger role in byelections.... if the ruling party assures that it will not distribute money and buy votes, PMK will consider to contest. However, there is no such chance of it happening. Hence the party has decided to not to contest the June 27 bypoll..." PMK founder S Ramadoss told a press conference here.

PMK will lead a front in Tamil Nadu in the 2016 assembly elections, he said.

On allegations that his party MP and former union minister Anbumani Ramadoss had underutilised the MPLAD fund, he claimed that Anbumani has provided funds to 299 works in the respective area.