UDF, NDA candidates file nominations

United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate D. Vijayakumar and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate P. S. Sreedharan Pillai filed their nomination papers on Monday for the May 28 Chengannur Assembly bypoll.

Mr. Vijayakumar, who is hoping to wrest the seat from the Left Democratic Front (LDF), submitted his nomination papers before RDO and returning officer M.V. Suresh Kumar in the morning. He handed over two sets of nomination papers. The UDF candidate was accompanied by Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, UDF election committee chairman K.N. Viswanathan, general convener Aby Kuriakose, and others. Mr. Vijayakumar, who is the president of the Chengannur Agriculture Development Bank, remitted the deposit amount donated by governing council members of the bank.

Mr. Sreedharan Pillai submitted his nomination papers before the RDO in the afternoon. He was accompanied by BJP secretary H. Raja, State president Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP national executive member P.K. Krishnadas, BJP leader M.T. Ramesh, and others.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Rajiv Pallath also submitted his nomination papers on Monday. LDF candidate Saji Cherian will file his nomination papers on May 9.

The notification for the bypoll was issued on May 3. The last date for filing nomination is May 10 and scrutiny of nomination will be held on May 11. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is May 14. The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

The byelection was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA K.K. Ramachandran Nair of the CPI(M) in January this year.