Top leaders to file nomination today

AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who won the Dr RK Nagar by-election with a huge margin of 1.5 lakh votes last June, will file her nomination papers on Monday, hoping to get re-elected in this general election.

DMK president and five-time Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, whose record in electoral politics has earned him the moniker ‘Mr Invincible’, is also seeking re-election from the Thiruvarur constituency. 

The 92-year-old DMK leader who recently began his electioneering is also scheduled to file his papers and proceed to the public meeting by Monday evening. 

Among other bigwigs who will be filing their nominations are PMK leader and Dharmapuri MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (Pennagaram), VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan (Kaattumannarkoil) and MDMK leader Vaiko (Kovilpatti). 

With the CM candidates of AIADMK, DMK and PMK are set to complete the first formality on the same day, different parts of the state will witness scenes of jubilation by the party cadre and supporters. Candidates of DMK, PMK and MDMK are also expected to file their nominations on the same day in their constituencies to join their leaders. 

However, all AIADMK candidates contesting in the 226  constituencies are said to have been ordered by the high command to file their nominations on April 28. 

DMK treasurer and former Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin seeking re-election from Kolathur constituency will file his nomination on April 27. Meanwhile, BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan will also file her nomination on the same day for Virugambakkam. 

The filing of nominations for the May 16 election began on Friday, and the papers were not accepted on Saturday and Sunday due to bank holidays at the weekend. Following the VIP candidates, second rung leaders of various political parties and the candidates will file their nominations in the following days. Apart from this, hundreds of independent candidates are also expected to join the fray in this election. 

While April 29 is the last date for the filing of nominations, scrutiny of nominations will be held on April 30 and the last date for withdrawal is May 2. 

With most of the state parties contesting in the Puducherry elections, poll heat will scale scorching heights in both Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory like the rising mercury level in summer.