On the last day of the filing nominations for the byelection to the Sulur Assembly constituency, nominees of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Makkal Needhi Maiam, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and more than 20 independents filed their nominations before Returning Officer S.Balakrishnan.

At the close of nomination period at 3 p.m. on Monday, 31 persons had filed nomination, the Returning Officer said. The total nominations the Returning Officer had received stood at 61.

Addressing reporters after filing his nomination, AIADMK nominee V.P. Kandasamy thanked the party leadership for giving him an opportunity to contest the election on behalf of the party and to continue the good works of former Sulur MLA and his cousin R. Kanagaraj, whose death necessitated the byelection.

Just as Kanagaraj had in the past three years had taken all the State Government’s schemes to the voters of Sulur, he would do all that was required for the constituency's betterment.

In particular, he would work for the welfare of farmers and powerloom weavers, he added.

Makkal Needhi Maiam candidate G. Mayilswamy said his priorities would be improving agriculture in areas that fell under the Sulur Assembly segment. He would strive to promote organic farming, take steps to dredge water bodies to maintain the groundwater table so that farmers could take up cultivation without having to worry about water.

He would also put in efforts for establishing an arts and science college in the constituency and an agricultural college as well.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam candidate K. Sugumar said his priorities would be upgrading the government hospital in Sulur to such an extent that autopsies could be performed there, steps to ease traffic congestion and a weavers' park.