With Dhinakaran’s win in the R.K. Nagar byelection, uncertainty returns to Tamil Nadu politics
![State Of Chaos](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/3180/259060/5a49df6e23ad4/State-Of-Chaos.jpg)
Come December, and Tamil Nadu finds itself on the cusp of political change. Last December, the state lost one of its strongest leaders, former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, and with her its political stability. This year, almost a fortnight after her first death anniversary, Jayalalithaa’s constituency—Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K. Nagar)—went to the polls. The result of the December 21 byelection could change the political scene in the state, again. For, the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK were decimated by independent candidate T.T.V. Dhinakaran, nephew of Jayalalithaa’s jailed aide V.K. Sasikala. While Dhinakaran won by more than 40,000 votes, the DMK candidate lost his deposit. The BJP candidate got only 1,417 votes, fewer than even NOTA.
Both the AIADMK and the DMK were confident of a win. On the same day as the byelection, a special CBI court in Delhi acquitted all the accused in the 2G spectrum scam, including DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and former telecom minister A. Raja. Soon, polling picked up in R.K. Nagar, and by 6pm the voter turnout was close to 78 per cent—the highest in a bypoll in the state. Owing to the high voter turnout and the infighting within the AIADMK, the bypoll should have been a cakewalk for the DMK. But the party’s candidate Maruthu Ganesh N. bagged only 24,651 votes.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Themes Of Choice](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/Vbt1DsXWF1726746629196/crp_THEMES-OF-CHOICE.jpg)
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
![A golden girl](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/fNunCfjia1726750177553/A-GOLDEN-GIRL.jpg)
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
![The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/DcqrhbqeD1726749944389/THE-INTEREST-IN-WINE-IS-GROWING-DELIGHTFULLY-IN-INDIA.jpg)
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
![United in the states](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/qZYdmVvkP1726749522638/UNITED-IN-THE-STATES.jpg)
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
![COVER DRIVE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/RMeBZs7lm1726749320144/COVER-DRIVE.jpg)
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
![GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/Z00Pkh06Z1726749039361/GDP-AS-THE-ONLY-MEASURE-OF-PROGRESS-IS-ILLOGICAL.jpg)
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
![India is not a controlling big brother](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/q2NJ3qB-O1726748609832/INDIA-IS-NOT-A-CONTROLLING-BIG-BROTHER.jpg)
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
![Comrade with no foes](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/RaMefp0u01726748402821/COMRADE-WITH-NO-FOES.jpg)
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
![Pinning down saffron](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/HKtYLAia11726748164629/PINNING-DOWN-SAFFRON.jpg)
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
![MAKE IN MANIPUR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3180/1837209/oUvA5X0Kx1726747833422/MAKE-IN-MANIPUR.jpg)
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict