Candidates of the two major Dravidian parties – the ruling AIADMK and Opposition DMK – on Friday filed their nomination papers for the December 21 by-election to the RK Nagar Assembly constituency.

The AIAMDK’s Presidium Chairman and former Minister E. Madhusudhanan and DMK’s Marudhu Ganesh filed their papers. The sidelined AIADMK leader, T.T.V. Dinakaran, also filed his nomination as an independent candidate.

Dinakaran was the candidate for then ruling AIADMK faction when the by-election was slated in April 2017, which later got cancelled over charges of voter bribing.

Madhusudhanan, was the candidate of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam faction when the AIADMK party was divided into two – one under Panneerselvam and the other under jailed leader V.K. Sasikala and her nephew Dinakaran.

The RK Nagar seat fell vacant following the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year.

The Indian National League has extended its support to Madhusudhanan.

On the other hand, the DMK has already garnered the support of Congress, VCK and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and other smaller outfits.

The PMK, the DMDK and Tamil Maanila Congress have decided not to contest in the by-election.