Final list out, 845 candidates in fray for April 18 Lok Sabha polls

The updation of the final list with symbols for independent candidates continued late into the night. The preparation of the ballot paper which carries the name of the candidates along with symbols will be prepared in a week’s time, poll officials said.

According to Public Election Department officials, the maximum number of withdrawals came from Thoothukudi with more than 14 opting out. South Chennai will have 40 candidates in the fray followed by Central Chennai and North Chennai with 31 and 23 candidates, respectively.

Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said that the nomination scrutiny has been completed and the district election officers have been instructed to work towards the training of poll officials and the preparation of polling booths. The maximum number of nominations came from Karur Lok Sabha seat with 43 nominations and now the constituency has 42 candidates in the fray. The least number of registrations are from the Nilgiris, Kancheepuram, Thanjavur and Tiruppur with 10 to 12 candidates in the fray. Responding to complaints from the DMK seeking the change of a few district collectors, the CEO said that the complaints are under consideration.

Commenting about the implementation of the model code of conduct, the CEO clarified that till now, more than Rs 72.94 crore of cash has been seized for non-possession of valid documents by the flying and static surveillance squads. The overall value of seizures in Tamil Nadu is around Rs 153 crore and this includes 608 kg of gold and silver.

Meanwhile, the ruling AIADMK lodged a complaint with the CEO alleging that the AMMK party workers had bribed voters with cash during the campaign by AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran. The petition by AIADMK advocate Babu Murugavel also quoted a media report in this regard. In another complaint, a group of AIADMK advocates petitioned the EC stating that the 133 feet DMK party flag post at the principle Opposition’s party office was in violation of the model code of conduct and said that the massive pole posed a risk for the public and commuters passing via Anna Salai.