Ramanathapuram/Sivaganga
Bigboss fame ‘Kavignar’ C. Snehan and disqualified MLAs S. Muthiah and S. Mariappan Kennedy were among the 61 candidates filed nominations to contest from the two Lok Sabha constituencies and assembly by-elections to Paramakudi and Manamadurai on the last day for filing of papers on Tuesday.
To contest from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency, a total of 21 candidates, including AMMK nominee Va Thu Na Anand, son of former AIADMK Minister Va Thu Natarajan, and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) candidate J. Vijaya Baskar filed papers before Returning Officer (RO) and Collector K Veera Raghava Rao. With this, 36 candidates have filed papers in the constituency. BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran and DMK ally, IUML nominee K Navas Kani had filed papers on Monday.
A total of 18 candidates, including Mr Snehan of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Therbogi V Pandi, nominee of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), filed their papers to contest from Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday before RO and Collector J. Jayakanthan, taking the total number of candidates filing papers to 34.
Congress candidate Karti Chidambaram and BJP nominee H Raja had filed their papers on Monday.
In the by-election to Paramakudi Assembly constituency, 11 candidates, including Dr Muthiah filed papers on the last day, taking to total to 15 candidates. DMK nominee Sampath Kumar and AIADMK candidate Sadan Prabakaran had filed papers on Mondy.
In the by-election to Manamadurai Assembly constituency, AMMK nominee and disqualified MLA Mariappan Kennedy and MNM nominee Ramakrishnan were among the 11 candidates filed papers, taking the tally to 16, officials said.
Talking to reporters after filing his papers, Mr Snehan, defending the entry of film stars in politics, claimed that there were more scholarly people in the film industry than in politics. Stating that people had been yearning for change, he exuded confidence that this election would bring about a change and MNM candidates would emerge victorious.
Mr Vijaya Baskar, the MNM candidate for Ramanathapuram, filed his papers after visiting ‘House of Kalam’ in Rameswaram and seeking the blessings of Mr Kalam’s elder brother APJM Maraikayar.
AMMK candidate Anand was accompanied by his father and former Minister Natarajan, former AIADMK district secretary M. Muniasamy and women’s wing leader Kavitha Sasikumar.
Dindigul
On the last day of nomination, 10 independent candidates filed nomination for Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency. According to officials, apart from the candidates from DMK, PMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Makkal Neethi Mayam, the AMMK candidate Jothi Murugan and 10 independents filed their papers before the Returning Officer.
The names of the independent candidates, who filed on the last day, were given as follows: Ravindran of RM Colony, Palanichamy of Round Road, Shanmuga Prabhu of Adhilakshmipuram, Pandi of Thummichampatti, Anandraj of Kallimandayam, Nagaraj of Dindigul, Ambrose of Dindigul, Vembarasan of A Vellode, Iswaran of Oddanchatram and Suresh of Alamarathupatti. The scrutiny would take place on Wednesday, officials added.
Periyakulam
M. Mayilvel (AIADMK), Shobana (Naam Tamilar Katchi), K S Saravanakumar (DMK), K Prabhu (Makkal Needhi Maiam) and 13 others filed their nomination as independents for the Periyakulam Assembly by-election.
Sarala Rai IAS officer arrived here as the (election) general observer for the Periakulam Assembly by-election.
According to a press release, the observer held a meeting with Returning Officer M Pallavi Baldev where District Revenue Officer S Kandasami and Periyakulam RDO Jeyapreetha were present.
Theni
A total of 43 candidates have filed nominations for the Theni Lok Sabha constituency. Officials said apart from the candidates contesting on behalf of registered political parties, including the Congress, AIADMK, 43 candidates have filed before the Returning Officer. On the last day, AMMK candidate Thanga Tamil Selvan filed his nomination.
The scrutiny would take place on Wednesday. In Andipatti by-poll, a total of 24 nominations were received on the last day of nominations, officials added.