In a jolt to the ruling AIADMK, sidelined leader T T V Dhinakaran yesterday won the prestigious RK Nagar Assembly bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes. Dhinakaran, nephew of jailed leader V K Sasikala, defeated his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the AIADMK by 40,707 votes, officials announced as the counting of votes ended. Polling for the seat was held on December 21.

Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran pays tribute at the memorial of MG Ramachandran after winning the RK Nagar constituency bypoll