RK Nagar bypoll: All you need to know

The RK Nagar bypoll will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017 and the results will be declared on Sunday, December 24.

The bypoll was necessitated after the death of AIADMK leader and former chief minister Jayalalitha.

Here are key points for the high-stake election.

* The outcome of the bypoll could serve as a report card of the ruling AIADMK which faced turbulence after Jayalalithaa's death.

* The campaign witnessed top leaders of various parties including K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam of the AIADMK, DMK leader MK Stalin and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran leaving no stone unturned to clinch the win.

* The campaign also saw old rivals Stalin and MDMK founder Vaiko share stage for the first time in many years.

* Former chief minister Jayalalithaa represented the assembly constituency.

* The AIADMK has fielded

E Madhusudhanan

for the bypoll.

* Many opposition parties, including the Congress, the VCK and the Left have backed

DMK candidate N Maruthuganesh

.

* Dhinakaran, who fell out of favour with CM Palaniswami and also lost the battle for party's 'Two Leaves' symbol to the latter, is fighting as an independent.

* With 59 candidates in fray, the bypoll is virtually confined to old warhorse Madhusudhanan, DMK's greenhorn Maruthuganesh and Dhinakaran.

READ ALSO: All set for counting for R K Nagar bypoll on Sunday