Chennai, Nov 30 (IANS): The ruling AIADMK party on Thursday nominated former Minister E. Madhusudhanan as its candidate for the by-election to the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency.

The decision was taken at the party's governing council meeting held at the party headquarters here. The meeting was chaired by party Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator and Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.

The Radhakrishnan Nagar seat fell vacant following the death of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.

Although the by-poll was scheduled for April 12, it was countermanded following reports of attempted voter bribing by a candidate.

The Madras High Court had directed to hold the by-poll before December 31.

Madhusudhanan, the party's Presidium Chairman, was the candidate of the 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 T.T.V.Dinakaran.

The DMK has said it will be renominating its candidate Marudhu Ganesh and immediately got support from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruttai Katchi (VCK) and All India Forward Bloc.