11th hour rush: 800 file nominations on Tuesday

Political party nominees and independent candidates vied with each other and the returning offices were busy till late in the night tabulating the nomination papers.

According to Tamil Nadu public election department sources, close to 1,700 persons have filed their applications till the last date of filing nominations. Of the total number, 1,200 were for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State. Around 490 applications have been received for the 18 vacant Assembly seats.

Perambur Assembly constituency registered the maximum number of applications with 68 expressing interest to contest. Nilakkottai and Sattur Assembly seats also received more than 40 nominations.

Among the Lok Sabha seats, maximum nominations came from Thoothukudi (58) and South Chennai (54). As usual The Nilgiris and Tenkasi reserved constituencies each received 10 nominations. At the time of going to press, there were 210 women and two from the third gender in fray.

Dayanidhi Maran, the former union telecom minister, filed his nominations on the last day seeking election from Central Chennai constituency.

AMMK heavy weights P Vetrivel filed his papers for Perambur Assembly seat and AMMK party propaganda secretary Thangathamizhselvan also submitted his papers taking on Deputy CM Panneerselvam’s son Ravindranath in Theni Lok sabha seat.

Tension prevailed at Perambalur Collectorate after Makkal Needhi Maiam candidate Senthil Kumar was asked to leave for arriving late at the office of returning officer by the poll officials. Senthil Kumar arrived at 3.20 pm, whereas the entry for candidates were closed by 3 pm, poll officials explained.