Jayalalitha enters political fray

Madras could soon have a new chief minister

By the BBC's Sampath Kumar in Madras

The former Chief Minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, Jayalalitha, has filed her nomination to contest a controversial by-election.

If she wins, as the leader of the ruling AIADMK party, she is set to become the chief minister of the state.

Ms Jayalalitha could not contest the assembly elections last May as she was disqualified by her conviction on corruption charges.

Allies have boycotted Jayalalitha's poll bid

On Thursday, she filed her nomination in Andipatti constituency amid a show of flamboyance with a convoy of more than 300 cars following her to the local election office.

Ms Jayalalitha has entered the fray without any of her allies, leading to a direct contest between Jayalalitha herself and the rival DMK candidate, Vaigai Sekar.

Her allies, the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Communists and the Pattali Makkal Katchi are boycotting the polls.

They are protesting against the Election Commission's refusal to postpone elections at Andipatti.

They complain that the AIADMK included a number of false names in the voters' list to facilitate an easy win for its candidates.

Polling controversy

Polling in two other constituencies has already beens postponed following such complaints.

Ms Jayalalitha had filed her nomination from Andipatti in May last year as well, but the Election Commission rejected her application at the time.

A politician with clout in Delhi

The law bars any person sentenced to more than two years of jail term from contesting an election.

Though she did not contest it herself, she became the Chief Minister in May as the leader of the largest party in the state assembly.

But following a Supreme Court order, she had to step down.

However, the Madras High Court recently acquitted her of corruption charges on appeal enabling her to seek election this time round.

Political observers say Jayalalitha is likely to win the by-election and become the chief minister again.