Tamil Nadu polls see over 6,700 nominations; final day records 3,300 filings

CHENNAI: More than 6,700 candidates have filed nominations for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across 234 constituencies, with a massive surge on the final day.

According to data uploaded on the Election Commission of India (ECI) website by 10 pm on Monday, a total of 6,740 nominations were received. Of these, 5,497 were filed by men and 1,241 by women. Two nominations were submitted by trans persons — one each from Villivakkam and Radhapuram constituencies.

On the last day alone, over 3,300 candidates filed their papers, including several prominent political leaders. Among them were AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Union Minister L Murugan, DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant, and BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran.

Other key candidates who filed nominations on Monday include ministers Duraimurugan, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, P K Sekarbabu, and R Gandhi, along with former minister S P Velumani, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan, former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, and PMK candidate Sowmya Anbumani.

After filing his nomination from Edappadi, Palaniswami expressed confidence in the AIADMK-led NDA alliance, predicting victory in 210 seats. Meanwhile, former minister V Senthil Balaji, contesting from Coimbatore South, dismissed the notion that the region is an AIADMK stronghold.

Earlier, on March 30 — the first day of nominations — around 570 candidates, including Chief Minister M K Stalin, NTK chief Seeman, and TVK president Vijay, had filed their papers.

Sources indicated that many candidates chose their filing dates based on astrological considerations. While some opted for the final day citing it as a ‘Subha Muhurtha’ coinciding with Chathurthi thithi, others took different approaches. Notably, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin filed his nomination on Prathamai thithi, which is generally considered inauspicious.

The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 7. The last date for withdrawal is April 9, and the final list of candidates will be announced the same day.

For comparison, during the 2021 Assembly elections, over 7,200 nominations were filed, with 3,998 candidates remaining in the fray after withdrawals.