All arrangements in place, nominations for LS polls to commence today

As per the notifications from Election Commission of India, the candidates can file nominations between March 19 and March 26. Candidates from constituencies including Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari are expected to file their nomination papers between 11 am to 3 pm from Tuesday.

After filing nominations, electoral officials would scrutinise the nomination papers on March 27. The last date for withdrawing nomination papers, would be on March 29, a statement said.

Only five persons including the candidate will be allowed inside the office of District Election Officer to file the nomination papers. Every candidate should remit a deposit of Rs 25,000, while a SC / ST candidate is expected to pay Rs 12,500 as deposit before the electoral officer.

High alert is in place to check any violation of model code of conduct with deployment of zonal teams, mobile teams, flying squad, static surveillance teams and video viewing teams. Security will be strengthened in polling stations. Electronic voting machines will be guarded by armed security force and also the vicinity of such stations, sources said.

Apart from Tamil Nadu Police Force, paramilitary force personnel are deployed in teams in Madurai. On Monday, the paramilitary force personnel took out pre-election flag march in parts of Madurai to sensitize voters to exercise their democratic rights, sources said.