Chennai, Mar 18 (PTI): BJP Friday announced veteran Tamil film music director Gangai Amaran as its candidate for the April 12 byelection to the Tamil Nadu assembly from R K Nagar constituency.

The candidature of Gangai Amaran, who has recently publicly supported former chief minister O. Panneerselvam for his revolt against AIADMK chief V.K. Sasikala, was announced by the BJP in a release Friday night.

Gangai Amran, brother of music maestro Illayaraja, had joined the BJP in 2014.

A noted lyricist, Gangai Amaran had recently accused Sasikala of arm twisting him to part with his farm house on the city outskirts during late chief minister Jayalalithaa's first regime from 1991 to 1996.

AIADMK has fielded its deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran as its candidate for the bypoll, necessitated by the death of Jayalalithaa, while the rebel camp headed by O. Panneerselvam has named E. Madhusudanan.

Opposition DMK has announced Marudu Ganesh, a journalist-turned politician, as its candidate in the election, seen as a first litmus test for the AIADMK after Sasikala took over the party.