Thousands rush to file nominations on the last day

The ruling AIADMK and Opposition DMK has released the list of candidates just a day ahead of the final list of nominations escalating the final list of nomination papers submitted. According to Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) sources, more than 50,000 nominations were received till evening and the remaining applicants were asked to wait after issuing tokens.

To encourage voters and public to lodge complaints against poll malpractices, TNSEC launched a toll-free complaint cell. A press release from the TNSEC stated that all the complaints related to poll code violations and model code of conduct will be registered and forwarded to district election officers for further action, the release said.

Voters can call 1800 425 7072 and 1800 425 7073 for poll related complaints, the release added.

“Filing of nominations to contest in the civic polls in rural areas, barring the recently carved out nine districts is over in all the 27 districts of Tamil Nadu and the scrutiny of nominations will be completed before Wednesday,” an informed official said.

Elections will be held to fill the 91,975 rural civic bodies posts in two phases on December 27 and 30. Ballot voting system will be followed in grama panchayat elections and four types of coloured ballot papers are ready for the polls.

For municipalities and corporations, electronic voting machines will be used, the official said.

For the first phase of the polls, a total of 49,688 polling booths will be kept ready. The votes will be counted on January 2 and the results will be announced on the same day. As per the poll schedule winners will assume office on January 6 and the indirect elections to president posts will be held on January 11 from 7 am to 5 pm, the official added.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Public Elections Department on Monday released the supplement voters list. “Already the revised voters roll with June 30 as deadline was sent to the State Election Commission which is gearing up for the civic polls,” Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told reporters.

The CEO also said that the Election Commission has decided to celebrate the 10th National Voters’ Day across the state at every district level. The theme for the 10th National Voters’ Day is electoral literacy for stronger democracy.