The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 3,725 have filed nominations: Naresh Gupta

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

3,725 have filed nominations: Naresh Gupta

Special Correspondent

A maximum of 30 candidates submitted papers in Thousand Lights in Chennai

CHENNAI: At the end of scrutiny of nominations for the May 8 Assembly elections on Friday, papers filed by candidates belonging to major political parties were found to be in order, according to State Election Department sources. But a final picture about the rejection of nominations was not available till late in the evening. Reports from the districts were still coming in after the scrutiny of nominations, the sources added.

Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said a total of 3,725 candidates had filed their nominations. A maximum of 30 candidates had submitted their papers for the Thousand Lights segment in Chennai and a minimum of three candidates filed their nominations in the Ulundurpet, Nannilam and Orathanad constituencies. He said 2,829 nominations were received for the 2001 Assembly poll. No complaint of persons obstructing candidates from filing nominations was received.

DMDK symbol

Asked if the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakanth would be allotted a symbol, he said as a registered party it could apply for one of the 71 free symbols provided by the Election Commission. There would be no problem in allotting the symbol if any other registered party did not claim it. Eleven parties recognised in other States, which set up their candidates in the Assembly poll in Tamil Nadu, could use the symbols reserved for them, Mr. Gupta said.

To a query, he said the three-member panel set up to look into and give permission for showing propaganda films on television channels and cable television had already seen a film produced by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The `Jaya TV' had also sought permission for screening a propaganda film. The committee would give clearance after the parties concerned made necessary changes if anything objectionable was found in the advertisement films.

On the DMK's complaint that permission was not granted by the police for screening a campaign film produced on behalf of the Democratic Progressive Alliance, he said, "we will look into the provisions."

To another question, he said as many as 53,000 polling booths would be manned by around 2.5 lakh personnel. The District Election Officers would ensure that the work was carried out without any difficulty.

Central paramilitary forces would be deployed in the first week of May, he said.

Around 83 per cent of the voters had been given photo identity cards so far. By the end of this month, it would reach 86 per cent, he hoped.

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