Day One: Five independents file nominations in city

Chennai

According to Election Commission observers, five independent candidates from the city filed their papers on Friday. S Kandasamy (51), an independent candidate, filed his papers for Villivakkam constituency in the morning (paying his deposit money Rs 10000 in ten-rupee coins), while K Jayaraj (42), another independent candidate submitted the application in Harbour constituency.

The other three independent candidates are R Abraham Rajamohan (68), D Ravi Parayanar (39) and Sadaiyandi (53), who filed papers for the prestigious RK Nagar constituency.

The EC had made arrangements for the candidates to take a pledge that they would not indulge in any corrupt practices. However, poll observers said that no one took the oath.

Nomination papers would not be accepted on Saturday and Sunday, which are declared as public holidays. Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni  in a statement said, no nominations could  be filed on Saturday as it was a holiday for banks (being the fourth Saturday) and the day after, which happens to be a Sunday.

The ECI has notified that as the general assembly election is to be slated on May 16 in the state, the poll day (Monday) should be declared as a public holiday.

In Salem North, four persons filed their nomination papers as independents on the first day.

In Tirunelveli, senior DMK leader and former minister T.P.M. Maideen Khan filed his nomination from Palayamkottai  assembly constituency, in the midst of infighting within the DMK and its key ally the Congress over his candidature for the past ten days.

Accompanied by Tirunelveli Central District DMK Secretary M. Abdul Wahab, former Union Minister and Congress leader R. Dhanushkodi Adityan, TMMK district president Millath Ismail, Maideen Khan filed his papers before the Returning Officer for Palayamkottai Constituency and Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian, on Friday afternoon.  

With the filing of nomination, the ten-day protest against the candidature of Maideen Khan came to an end.

Meanwhile, sources in the DMK said, Khan held discussions with Wahab on Thursday night and filed his nomination on the first day itself, in a bid to ensure that his candidature would not be replaced by the party high command.

Independent candidate Jayaraj in Salem South, Padmarajan (known as election king) in Mettur and BJP candidate Ponnurasu in Yercaud were among those who chose the first day itself to file their papers. Significantly, Natesan, who was removed from the DMK, filed his nomination from Salem North.