Tamil Nadu polls: Top leaders to file papers today

Chennai: The week beginning Monday will see a flurry of hectic political activity with top Chief Ministerial contenders — J. Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi — and other players like Vaiko and Anbumani Ramadoss filing their nomination papers.

The next five days should set the high stakes ball rolling for the May 16 Assembly polls.

Though filing of nominations began on Friday, so far less than 100 candidates have submitted their papers, leaving all major action to take place this week as the last date for filing the papers will be April 29.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and her archrival M. Karunanidhi would file their nomination papers on Monday in R K Nagar and Thiruvarur respectively.

Jayalalithaa is expected to file her nomination papers around noon at the Zonal Office of Chennai Corporation in Tondiarpet for contesting from R K Nagar. Her archrival M Karunanidhi will submit his nomination papers before the Revenue Divisional Officer in Thiruvarur on Monday afternoon.

PMK Chief Ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss, who is contesting from Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district, and People's Welfare Alliance convenor Vaiko, will file their nominations before the Assistant Commissioner (Excise) in Dharmapuri and the Revenue Divisional Officer in Kovilpatti respectively.  

As Monday is an auspicious, muhurtham day, most leaders, including Mr Karunanidhi and Mr Vaiko who are the products of the Dravidian movement, have chosen the day to file their nominations.

Many candidates are expected to file their nominations on Monday.
DMDK chief Vijayakanth, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the DMDK-PWA combine, will file his nomination on Wednesday before the Assistant Commissioner (Excise) in Villupuram.

The last day for filing nominations is April 29 and scrutiny would be held on April 30 and nominations can be withdrawn till May 2. The elections to the 234-member Assembly will be held on May 16 and the votes polled would be counted on May 19.